孩提魚水-Memories of Childhood

 

淘米方塘水，白雲共碧青。

曉風邀彩蝶，菱葉約蜻蜓。

漣漪堪鑒麵，魚蝦任潛形。

浸籮引鱗入，起水玉瓊撲。

渾然忘灶台，陶然忘饑腹。

可喜白米蝦，細弄晶瑩目。

童子不忍傷，放生且投穀。

孩提許多事，枕上兩眉間，

其時適窮苦，今來思是甜。

乙未年秋稿

Memories of Childhood

By the pond’s edge, I rinsed rice in water clear,
Where white clouds merged with jade-green far and near.
Dawn winds teased dancing butterflies in flight,
While water lilies beckoned dragonflies light.

Ripples mirrored my face, pure and bright,
Fish and shrimp darted, vanishing from sight.
I dipped my basket, luring them to play,
Then lifted it—splashes like pearls in array.

Lost in joy, I forgot the stove’s demand,
Forgot my hunger, enchanted by the land.
Those tiny translucent shrimp, so fair,
Gleamed with eyes like crystal, delicate and rare.

A child’s heart couldn’t bear to harm,
So I set them free, scattering grains like balm.
So many memories of those early days,
Now linger between my brows, in a wistful haze.

Back then, life was bitter, lean and spare,
Yet now I recall it all with sweetness rare.

(Drafted in Autumn, Yiwei Year)