小(xiǎo)池(chí)

杨(yánɡ)万(wàn)里(lǐ)〔宋(sònɡ)代(dài)〕

泉(quán)眼(yǎn)无(wú)声(shēnɡ)惜(xī)细(xì)流(liú)，

树(shù)荫(yīn)照(zhào)水(shuǐ)爱(ài)晴(qínɡ)柔(róu)。

小(xiǎo)荷(hé)才(cái)露(lù)尖(jiān)尖(jiān)角(jiǎo)，

早(zǎo)有(yǒu)蜻(qīnɡ)蜓(tínɡ)立(lì)上(shànɡ)头(tóu)。(

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

The spring’s outlet is silent, reluctant to part with the trickling stream;
The tree’s shadow cast on the water cherishes the gentle scenery on a sunny day.
A small lotus leaf, just baring its pointed tip above the water’s surface,
Already has a small dragonfly perched atop it.

Annotations

  • 泉眼 (quányǎn): The emergence point of spring water.
  • 惜 (xī): To be reluctant to let go.
  • 照水 (zhào shuǐ): Reflected on the water surface.
  • 晴柔 (qíng róu): The soft and pleasant view on a clear day.
  • 尖尖角 (jiānjiānjiǎo): The unfurled tip of a lotus leaf just emerging from the water.
  • 上头 (shàng tóu): On top. For the sake of rhyme, “tóu” is pronounced with full tone instead of the neutral tone “tou”.

Creative Background:

“Little Pond” is recorded in Volume Seven of “Chengzhai Collection: Jianghu Collection”. The poems recorded in this collection are basically arranged in chronological order of the poet’s appointments and seasons. The eighth poem before “Little Pond” is titled “Bing Shen New Year’s Day”. “Bing Shen” refers to the third year of Emperor Chunxi’s reign in the Song Dynasty (1176), and “New Year’s Day” refers to the first day of the lunar calendar, which indicates that “Little Pond” was composed after the Spring Festival of that year.

The first and second poems before “Little Pond” are titled “Summer Verse” and “Late Spring Light Rain”, respectively, suggesting that these two poems were written at the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

The fifth poem after “Little Pond” is titled “Writing on a Snowy Boat in Extreme Heat”, indicating that the poet was still residing in his study “Snowy Boat” in Jishui during the hottest days of that year.

In Jishui and even within Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, lotus flowers first bloom in early May of the lunar calendar. Based on the words “tree shadow,” “small lotus,” and “pointed tip” in “Little Pond,” it can be inferred that this poem was composed in early May of the third year of Emperor Chunxi’s reign (1176). The creation site was within the territory of Jishui County, and the “Little Pond” in the title refers to the large pond directly in front of Yang Wanli’s former residence, “Father and Son Marquis Mansion.”