A Message from my Lodge at Wangchuan to Pei Di
July 6, 2023Under the lime tree
July 6, 2023A Farmhouse on the Wei River
In the slant of the sun on the country-side,
Cattle and sheep trail home along the lane;
And a rugged old man in a thatch door
Leans on a staff and thinks of his son, the herdboy.
There are whirring pheasants, full wheat-ears,
Silk-worms asleep, pared mulberry-leaves.
And the farmers, returning with hoes on their shoulders,
Hail one another familiarly.
…No wonder I long for the simple life
And am sighing the old song, Oh, to go Back Again!
Wang Wei
Wang Wei (701-761) was a Chinese poet, painter, and musician who is considered one of the most important figures of the Tang dynasty. Wei's poetry often dealt with themes of nature and the human condition, and his most famous works include "Deer Fence" and "The King of Chu at Shangyin." Wei was also a renowned painter and musician.