Birthday poem · February 26Rain Water, the 2nd solar term: snow gives way to rain.
Birth character
柳 liǔ · willow
柳 combines 木 "tree" with a sound element; it means willow.
客舍青青柳色新
“The willows by the tavern look so fresh and green.” — Wang Wei, ‘Farewell to Yuan Er on His Mission to Anxi’
The poem
“Seeing Off Shen Zifu” 送沉子福之江東
- 楊柳渡頭行客稀At the willow ferry the travellers are few;
- 罟師盪槳向臨圻the fisherman rows his oars toward Linqi.
- 唯有相思似春色Only my longing, like the colour of spring,
- 江南江北送君歸will follow you home, north and south of the river.
Why this poem
Wang Wei sees a friend off east; longing follows him like spring.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Rain Water.