The pinyin of the ancient poem about living in the village is as follows:
cǎo zhǎng yīng fēi èr yuè tiān, fú dīyáng liǔzuì chūn yān.
The grass is long and the orioles are flying in the February sky, and the willows are brushing the embankments and are drunk with the spring smoke.
ér tóng sàn xué guīlái zǎo, máng chèn dōng fēng fàng zhǐyuān.
The children came back early from school and were busy flying kites in the east wind.
Translation of "Village Residence" by Gao Ding of the Qing Dynasty:
In the second month of the lunar calendar, the green grass in and around the village has gradually sprouted and grown, and orioles are flying here and there. The willows are covered with long green branches, swaying in the wind, as if gently stroking the embankment. The water vapor that evaporates between the water and vegetation condenses like smoke. The willows seem to be intoxicated by this rich scenery. The children in the village hurried home after school and took advantage of the east wind to fly kites into the blue sky.
Creative background
The poet was rejected and attacked by the peacemakers in his later years. Unable to achieve his ambition, he retired to the countryside in Shangrao area. In a village far away from the war front line, in the quiet early spring of February, the grass grows long and warblers fly, and willows brush the embankments. The poet, who was infected by the pastoral atmosphere, felt the joy of the coming of spring and wrote this poem.