Zuo Wei (AD ? – 1142)
Late Spring
Above the pool were waving willows, the people close their doors.
The butterflies follow the falling petals, the swallows brush atop the water.
Calling for one’s companions, the fright and quelled laughter.
The year’s spring is exhausted, leaning on the staff towards the Western sunset.
池上柳依依，柳邊人掩扉。
蝶隨花片落，燕拂水紋飛。
試數交遊看，方驚笑語稀。
一年春又盡，倚杖對斜暉。
MD Notes: “池上柳依依” or “Above the pool were waving willows” is a reference to the Classics of Poetry (1100-700 BC). It is an ancient and rarely used idiom about the reluctance to part [with spring].
Delta Translations 