Returning to Live in the South
Tao Qian



Sow beans south hill below
Grass flouriching beans seedling scarce
Morning rise tidy wasteland ugly
Carry moon carry hoe return
Way narrow grass trees great
Evening dew dampen my clothes
Clothes wet not enough worry
If cause wish not separate
I sow my beans below the southern hills,
Though grasses flourish, the sprouting beans are scarce.
I rise at dawn to clear the wasteland up,
Beneath the moon I carry back my hoe.
The path is narrow, the trees and grass grown tall,
My clothes are dampened by the evening dew.
Yet dampened clothes are nothing to begrudge,
If only my desires can be fulfilled.


View Chinese text in simplified characters.

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