夜(yè)书(shū)所(suǒ)见(jiàn)

叶(yè)绍(shào)翁(wēnɡ)〔宋(sònɡ)代(dài)〕

萧(xiāo)萧(xiāo)梧(wú)叶(yè)送(sònɡ)寒(hán)声(shēnɡ),

江(jiānɡ)上(shànɡ)秋(qiū)风(fēnɡ)动(dònɡ)客(kè)情(qínɡ)。

知(zhī)有(yǒu)儿(ér)童(tónɡ)挑(tiǎo)促(cù)织(zhī),

夜(yè)深(shēn)篱(lí)落(luò)一(yì)灯(dēnɡ)明(mínɡ)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

The shivery autumn wind rustles the leaves of the wutong trees, sending a chill. The autumn wind over the river triggers homesickness.

Suddenly, I catch sight of a glimpse of light from a distant fence, presumably from the children catching cicadas.

Annotations

萧萧 (Xiāo xiāo)：The sound of the wind.

客情 (Kè qíng)：The homesickness of travelers.

挑 (Tiǎo)：To poke with something slender.

促织 (Cù zhī)：Commonly known as crickets.

篱落 (Lí luò)：Fence.

Creation Background

The author, living in a foreign land, felt the autumn in a quiet night and wrote this emotionally winding little poem.