Source: Tang Yuxi's "Looking at Dongting"
Original poem:
The lake and the moon set each other off, and there is no wind mirror on the pool surface.
Looking at Dongting from a distance, there is a green snail in the silver plate.
Translation:
Calm waves, moonlight and water blend together, and the lake is like a bronze mirror that does not need polishing, smooth and bright. Overlooking Dongting, Dongting Mountain with green mountains and lush trees stands in Dongting Lake with white light, just like a green snail in a silver plate.
Poetry appreciation
Looking at Dongting is a landscape poem by Liu Yuxi. He described the Qiu Guang in Dongting Lake, which was as flat as a mirror on a quiet night and was praised by people. "The lake and the moon set each other off, and there is no wind mirror on the pool surface." The lake and the autumn moon reflect each other, and there is no wind on the water, just like a mirror that has never been worn. This is a recent story about autumn scenery in Dongting.
"Looking at the mountains and rivers in Dongting, there are green snails in the silver plate." "Green snail" refers to Junshan Mountain in Dongting Lake, which is seen from a distance. The mountains are green and the waters are green, and Junshan in the lake is like a green snail in a silver plate. The metaphor is wonderful, Dongting is a silver plate, Junshan is a green snail, shining with the poet's wonderful fantasy. The whole poem does not need to be classical, but uses popular style and clever metaphor to write the autumn scenery of Dongting Lake.