Village House
Village House ⑴
Qing Dynasty
Gao
Ding
The grass grows long and the orioles fly in February.
The willows on the embankment are drunk by the spring smoke.
Children come back early from school,
busy flying kites in the east wind.
Author
Gao Ding, courtesy name Xiangyi and Zhuowu, was born in Renhe, Zhejiang Province (now Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province). He was a poet in the late Qing Dynasty.
Notes
(1) Village dwelling: the scene seen when living in the countryside.
(2) Willow brushing the embankment: The willow branches are very long, hanging down and swinging slightly, as if caressing the embankment.
(3) Spring smoke: mist evaporated from water, vegetation, etc. in spring.
(4) Zui: intoxicated, intoxicated.
(5) School break: school is over.
(6) Paper Kite: Kite.
Explanation
The author of "Village Residence" is Gao Ding, a poet of the Qing Dynasty. This poem describes the scene of spring that the poet saw when he lived in the countryside and the scene of children flying kites after school. In early spring in February, the grass grows and orioles fly, willows blow on the embankments, and children fly kites with great interest. There are scenes, people and things, full of the interest of life, and outline a vibrant "happy spring picture". The poet's joy and praise for the coming of spring are revealed between the lines of the whole poem.
Translation
In the second month of the lunar calendar, the grass around the village gradually sprouts and grows, and orioles fly around. 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. Willow seemed to be intoxicated by this rich scenery. The children in the village hurried home after school and took advantage of the strong east wind to fly kites into the blue sky.
Appreciation
"Village Residence" depicts a picture of children flying kites on the grassy grass next to the village in spring. It is a picture of rural life full of vitality and spring, which combines natural scenery and moving characters. After reading this poem, we seemed to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery with the poet and share the joy of the children flying kites.
The first sentence writes about time and natural scenery. In early spring, in February, the grass grows green buds, and the oriole flies in the sky, singing happily. The long branches of the willows beside the embankment gently brushed the ground, as if they were drunkenly swaying in the spring smoke.
The second sentence describes the characters’ activities. The children came back from school early and took advantage of the east wind to fly kites. Children, east wind, paper kites, the people and things chosen by the poet add a bit of vitality and hope to the beautiful spring.