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Shān Tíng Xià RìA Summer Day at the Mountain Pavilion 山亭夏日

Gao Pian (高骈, also known as )｜Late Tang｜seven-character quatrain

Gao Pian on a summer pavilion, with roses scenting the whole courtyard.

Original Chinese text with pinyin

绿树阴浓夏日长
lǜ shù yīn nóng xià rì zhǎng

楼台倒影入池塘
lóu tái dào yǐng rù chí táng

水晶帘动微风起
shuǐ jīng lián dòng wēi fēng qǐ

满架蔷薇一院香
mǎn jià qiáng wēi yī yuàn xiāng

Simplified characters; traditional title: 山亭夏日.

Green trees cast thick shade; the summer day is long;

towers and terraces reflect upside down in the pond.

The crystal curtain stirs as a light breeze rises;

a trellis full of roses scents the whole courtyard.

Original translation by Poetune — literal but poetic, written for this site.

绿树阴浓夏日长 · lǜ shù yīn nóng xià rì zhǎng — Green trees cast thick shade; the summer day is long;

楼台倒影入池塘 · lóu tái dào yǐng rù chí táng — towers and terraces reflect upside down in the pond.

水晶帘动微风起 · shuǐ jīng lián dòng wēi fēng qǐ — The crystal curtain stirs as a light breeze rises;

满架蔷薇一院香 · mǎn jià qiáng wēi yī yuàn xiāng — a trellis full of roses scents the whole courtyard.

Gao Pian on a summer pavilion, with roses scenting the whole courtyard. The scene stays with you.

Gao Pian on a summer pavilion, with roses scenting the whole courtyard.

Gao Pian was a Late Tang general who also wrote poetry.

Lifetime: 821–887. Other famous works: A Summer Day at the Mountain Pavilion (山亭夏日).