Two poems: beyond a wall and beneath a sky

诗人猜想屐齿会在苍苔上留下印子。

shī rén cāi xiǎng jī chǐ huì zài cāng tái shàng liú xià yìn zi。

The poet guesses that his clog teeth may leave marks on the moss.

院墙旁的苍苔显出春日湿润的颜色。

yuàn qiáng páng de cāng tái xiǎn chū chūn rì shī rùn de yán sè。

The green moss beside the wall shows the damp colour of spring.

诗人轻轻敲打柴扉，却没有人开门。

shī rén qīng qīng qiāo dǎ chái fēi， què méi yǒu rén kāi mén。

The poet gently knocks on the wooden gate, but no one opens it.

一枝红杏越过院墙，透露出满园春色。

yì zhī hóng xìng yuè guò yuàn qiáng， tòu lù chū mǎn yuán chūn sè。

A branch of red apricot blossoms reaches over the wall, revealing the garden's spring colour.

杨柳青青，江水也像镜子一样平静。

yáng liǔ qīng qīng， jiāng shuǐ yě xiàng jìng zi yí yàng píng jìng。

Green willows stand beside a river as calm as a mirror.

同音词形成双关，让一句诗同时表达两层意思。

tóng yīn cí xíng chéng shuāng guān， ràng yī jù shī tóng shí biǎo dá liǎng céng yì si。

Homophones form a pun, allowing one poetic line to express two meanings.

应怜屐齿印苍苔，

yīng lián jī chǐ yìn cāng tái，

Perhaps the owner fears my clogs will mark the moss,

小扣柴扉久不开。

xiǎo kòu chái fēi jiǔ bù kāi。

I tap the gate, but it stays closed.

春色满园关不住，

chūn sè mǎn yuán guān bú zhù，

The garden’s spring cannot be shut inside,

一枝红杏出墙来。

yì zhī hóng xìng chū qiáng lái。

A red apricot branch reaches beyond the wall.

杨柳青青江水平，

yáng liǔ qīng qīng jiāng shuǐ píng，

Willows are green and the river is calm,

闻郎江上唱歌声。

wén láng jiāng shàng chàng gē shēng。

I hear his singing over the water.

东边日出西边雨，

dōng biān rì chū xī biān yǔ，

Sun in the east, rain in the west,

道是无晴却有晴。

dào shì wú qíng què yǒu qíng。

There seems to be no sunshine, yet there is sunshine after all.

A 第一首的门打开了吗？

dì yī shǒu de mén dǎ kāi le ma？

Does the gate open in the first poem?

B 没有，但是墙外看见了一枝红杏。

méi yǒu， dàn shì qiáng wài kàn jiàn le yì zhī hóng xìng。

No, but an apricot branch is visible beyond the wall.

A 哪句话让春色显得活泼？

nǎ jù huà ràng chūn sè xiǎn de huó pō？

Which line makes spring seem active?

B 春色满园关不住。

chūn sè mǎn yuán guān bú zhù。

“A garden full of spring cannot be shut away.”

A 主人怜惜苍苔是亲口说的吗？

zhǔ rén lián xī cāng tái shì qīn kǒu shuō de ma？

Does the owner personally say they cherish the moss?

B 诗里是诗人的猜想。

shī lǐ shì shī rén de cāi xiǎng。

It is the poet’s imagined explanation.