Ode to the Cold Pines
Fan Yun of the Southern and Northern Dynasties
The strips are trimmed to brush the layers of Han, and the dense leaves obscure the sky.
Lingfeng knows the integrity, and the snow shows the sincerity.
The slender pine branches seemed to be gently brushing against the white clouds, and the dense pine leaves covered the sky. Only when it is beaten by the cold wind can we know that the pine tree has an indomitable spirit; only when it is under the weight of heavy snow can its steadfastness be revealed.
The first two sentences of the poem describe the image of tall and straight pine trees, and the last two sentences describe the tenacious character of pine trees that are not afraid of the harsh environment. The author expresses the lofty spiritual realm he pursues through his praise of pine trees.