池(chí)上(shànɡ)

白(bái)居(jū)易(yì)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

小(xiǎo)娃(wá)撑(chēnɡ)小(xiǎo)艇(tǐnɡ)，

偷(tōu)采(cǎi)白(bái)莲(lián)回(huí)。

不(bù)解(jiě)藏(zànɡ)踪(zōnɡ)迹(jì)，

浮(fú)萍(pínɡ)一(yí)道(dào)开(kāi)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

Translation:
A child paddles a boat, secretly picking white lotus flowers from the pond and returning with them.
He doesn’t know how to conceal his whereabouts, as the duckweed on the water surface is parted by the boat, leaving a long trail.

Annotations

  • 小娃 (xiǎo wá): Refers to a child.
  • 艇 (tǐng): Boat.
  • 白莲 (bái lián): White lotus flowers.
  • 踪迹 (zōng jì): Refers to the duckweed parted by the boat.
  • 浮萍 (fú píng): Aquatic plant with oval leaves floating on the water surface. There are fibrous roots under the leaves, and it blooms white flowers in summer.

Creative Background

According to “Collated and Annotated Collection of Bai Juyi’s Poems”, this poem was written in 835 AD (the ninth year of the Dahe Era), when Bai Juyi was serving as the Deputy Director of the Prince’s Tutor in the eastern capital of Luoyang.

One day, while strolling by a pond, he saw a child paddling a boat and composed this poem.