Birthday poem · February 8Start of Spring, the 1st solar term: spring begins in the traditional calendar.
Birth character
高 gāo · high
高 is a picture of a tall building; it means high.
遠近高低各不同
“Assuming different shapes viewed from far and wide.” — Su Shi, ‘Written on the Wall at West Forest Temple’
Other dates with this poem: April 11
The poem
“Crabapple” 海棠
- 東風嫋嫋泛崇光The east wind blows softly; the blossoms glow;
- 香霧空濛月轉廊fragrant mist hangs hazy as the moon turns past the gallery.
- 只恐夜深花睡去Fearing only that, deep in the night, the flowers will fall asleep,
- 故燒高燭照紅妝I light tall candles to shine on their rouged faces.
Why this poem
Su Shi lights candles at night to look at crab-apple blossom, which flowers in spring.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Start of Spring.