"The Thrush"
Ouyang Xiu
Thousands of chirps move at will,
The mountain flowers are red and purple, and the trees are high and low.
I just realized that listening to the golden cage is not as good as the free singing in the forest.
Notes
Notes ① Chirping: The sound of birds is gentle. ② The difference between high and low : Flying high and low. ③Golden cage: precious birdcage. The first two sentences of Ouyang Xiu's "Thrush" describe the scene: The thrush sings thousands of times, dancing gracefully, one high and one low, making the bright red and purple mountain flowers more beautiful. It is pleasing to the eye. The last two sentences are lyrical: Seeing those birds in cages, I really envy the thrushes flying in the forest, free and unrestrained. What should also be understood here is that the author Ouyang Xiu was in court at this time. Being ostracized and demoted to Chuzhou, we can understand the mood of writing this poem.
Translation:
Thousands of birds chirping, echoing randomly,
< p>(Right there) Mountain flowers bloomed in a variety of colors, in the forest with different heights.This is when I realized: (before) I heard the cry of the thrush locked in the golden cage,
Far less than the freedom of singing when wandering in the forest.