Bai Juyi: Jujube Trees in the Middle of an Apricot Orchard

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Jujube Trees in the Middle of Apricot Orchard

杏 园 中 枣 树
人 言 百 果 中
唯 枣 凡 且 鄙。
皮 皴 似 龟 手
叶 小 如 鼠 耳。
胡 为 不 自 知
生 花 此 园 里。
岂 宜 遇 攀 玩
幸 免 遭 伤 毁。
二 月 曲 江 头
杂 英 红 旖 旎。
枣 亦 在 其 间
如 嫫 对 西 子。
东 风 不 择 木
吹 照 长 未 已。
眼 看 欲 合 抱
得 尽 生 生 理。
寄 言 游 春 客
乞 君 一 回 视。
君 爱 绕 指 柔
从 君 怜 柳 杞 。
君 求 悦 目 艳
不 敢 争 桃 李。
君 若 作 大 车
轮 轴 材 须 此。

 

Xing Yuan Zhong Zao Shu

Ren yan bai guo zhong
Wei zao fan qi bi.
Pi cun si jun shou
Ye xiao ru shu er.

Hu wei bu zi zhi
Sheng hua ci yuan li.
Qie yi yu pan wan
Xing mian zao shang hui.

Er yue qu jiang tou
Za ying hong yi ni.
Zao yi zai qi jian
Ru mo cun xi zi.

Dong feng bu ze mu
Chui zhao chang wei yi.
Yan kan yu he bao
De jin sheng sheng li.

Ji yan you chun ke
Qi jun yi hui shi.
Jun ai rao zhi rou
Cong jun lian liu qi.

Jun qiu yue mu yan
Bu gan zheng tao li.
Jun ruo zuo da che
Lun zhou cai xu ci.

 

Jujube Trees in the Middle of an Apricot Orchard

People say there are hundreds of different fruits
For now only the jujubes are considered vulgar.
Cracked skins like parched earth and hands
Leaves are small like the ears of mice.

Why are they naturally unaware of themselves
But inside this orchard their blossoms emerge.
Is it not appropriate to climb these trees
Good fortune if one avoids cuts and wounds while doing this.

Second lunar month, riverside orchards
Various colored blossoms charming and gentle.
Jujube trees also flower among all the others
Opposite of Xi Zi blossoms, they are like Mo Mu.

Eastern breezes do not choose which tree to touch
Warm winds blow long distances for all of them.
Eyes taking note, need to get close and hug
Layer after layers of trees go on and on.

To traveling spring guests, I tell them of these jujube trees
One looks at them without forgetting.
You may want to curl your fingers around what is soft
And follow with sympathies for willow trees.

You may seek the happiness of the bright and gorgeous
Such that they cannot compete with the peach and pear trees.
But if one wants to make a large carriage
Use the larger jujubes as timber for the wheels and axles.

 

Notes:

[The Apricot Orchard in this poem is located in the southeast section of the capital city of Chang’an. Famous for it’s beauty, and for being the place where the three hundred successful imperial exam graduates go to party and celebrate.]

Xi Zi:  Famous as one of the most beautiful ladies in the history of China.

Mo Mu:  Remembered as a palace lady favored by Huang Di, not for her beauty, but for her intelligence and moral virtue.

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