This poem comes from the seven-character quatrain "Four Seasons and Pastoral Miscellaneous Glory II" written by Fan Chengda, a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the poem, "Plum yellow", "apricot fat", "wheat white" and "rare cauliflower" write down the scenery characteristics of the southern rural areas in summer. In poetry, there are not only flowers, fruits, but also tangible colors.
Four Seasons and Pastoral Miscellanies and the Second Translation
Original text:
Plum golden apricot fat, wheat white, cauliflower thin.
No one has ever crossed the fence, only dragonflies and butterflies are flying.
Translation:
Early summer is the season when plums are golden and apricots are plump. The ears of wheat are covered with white flowers, and almost all rape flowers are falling and bearing seeds.
The days in summer are very long, no one passes the fence, everyone is busy in the fields, only dragonflies and butterflies are dancing leisurely.