Seeking a Quiet Courtyard, Asking Time for the Serenity of Jade-Green Years
Imagine finding a tranquil courtyard,
Seeking a lifetime of serene, jade-green years.
Green lawn as the base, red flowers as the border,
Plant a ginkgo tree in front of the courtyard,
Plant a flowering crabapple tree in the back,
As the wind rises and the flowers fall, old leaves flutter,
A scattering of romance, captivating and intoxicating.
In a place surrounded by floral fragrance,
Create a small corner,
In the morning, with sunlight streaming down,
In the evening, watching fireflies dance,
Spending time with you, chatting about longevity and well-being.
Spring, admire the primrose blooming along the walls,
Summer, watch the pink lotus laughing in the pond,
Autumn, see maple leaves turning red on the eaves,
Winter, see a ground covered in white before the gate.
Turn simple days into poetry,
In your leisure time, plant flowers and grasses,
Lucky bamboo, wish trees, chrysanthemums, often-blooming jasmine…
Enclose all four seasons within the small courtyard.
When tired, lean against a soft chair for rest,
Brew a pot of tea, enjoying the fragrance of flowers throughout the courtyard,
Drinking a sip, bitterness transforms into sweetness.
When sleepy, light a stick of incense in the stove,
Listening to the chirping of insects, accompanied by floral fragrance,
Sleeping soundly with the soft moonlight,
wrote in a letter to his friends:
If you come to visit me, it's best in summer.
I will be waiting for you in the ridge pavilion,
I'll also casually, while blowing the wind, or while thinking of you.
If anyone comes to visit,
I will certainly treat them with sincerity.
In March, admire the pale yellow of the winter-blooming plum blossoms,
In May, pick up scattered pieces of locust flowers,
In July, view pink lotuses in the pond,
In September, taste homemade jasmine wine.
Away from the noisy world,
Preserving inner peace,
Maintaining a private sanctuary,
Life is the simplest and happiest.
The blessings of life are those you give yourself,
The ideal life, though unknown when it will come,
But please believe, it is on the way.
Hopefully, after the extravagance fades,
Everyone can fulfill their wishes,
In their own way, to spend one lifetime.
Starting from now on,
Build a small courtyard for yourself,
Watching flowers bloom and fall, for a lifetime…
……
