"Little Pine"
Tang Dynasty: Du Xunhe
Since childhood, I have been thorny in the deep grass,
Now I am gradually aware of the basil.
At that time, people did not know the Lingyun tree.
Waiting until the Lingyun tree reached its peak.
Translation: When the pine tree was young, it grew in very deep grass and was hidden from view. Only now did I realize that it was much taller than those wild grasses (basil). Those people didn't know that trees could reach the sky. People didn't call it tall until it reached the sky.
Extended information:
Poetry appreciation:
Pine, the hero and warrior among the trees. In the cold weather for several days, the grass withered and the trees withered, but it was green and soaring in the clouds, resisting the wind and snow, and remained calm and composed. However, Lingyun Giant Pine grew from newly unearthed small pine trees. Although the pine tree is small, it already shows signs of becoming a leader. The first two sentences of "Little Pine" vividly depict this feature.
"Since childhood, it has been thorny in the deep grass" - the small pine has just been unearthed, and it is indeed pitifully small. The weeds on the roadside are taller than it, and it is even buried in the "deep grass". But although it is small, it is not weak. Surrounded by "deep grass", it does not bow its head, but its "thorn head" - the head covered with pine needles, straight and hard, sprinting upwards, unstoppable.
Those fragile grasses cannot compete with it. The word "thorn" in "thorn head" is very precise, which not only accurately outlines the characteristics of Komatsu's appearance, but also vividly outlines Komatsu's strong and unyielding character and brave fighting spirit.
The word "thorn" shows that the pine tree has strong vitality; its "smallness" is only temporary and relative. As time goes by, it will inevitably turn from small to large.
Baidu Encyclopedia—Xiaosong (Poetry Works of Du Xunhe in the Tang Dynasty)