The full poem of Du Fu's two absolute lines is as follows:
Two absolute lines
Du Fu?
The late sun and the rivers and mountains are beautiful, and the spring breeze is fragrant with flowers and grass.
The mud melts and the swallows fly, the sand is warm and the mandarin ducks sleep.
The river is blue, the birds are white, the mountains are green, the flowers are burning.
This spring has passed, when will it be the year of return?
Translation:
Bathed in the spring light, the river and mountains look exceptionally beautiful, and the spring breeze sends the fragrance of flowers and plants.
The soil melts and becomes soft with the coming of spring, swallows build their nests in the mud, and pairs of mandarin ducks sleep on the warm sand.
The turquoise water of the river made the birds' feathers even whiter, the mountains were verdant, and the red wildflowers seemed about to burst into flames.
This year's spring will soon be over, what year and month will be the date of my return home?
Notes:
Late Day: Spring Day.
Mud Melt: here it means the mud is moist and wet.
Mandarin ducks: a kind of water bird, the male and female birds often double.
Bird: refers to the river gulls.
Flower: the flower is red like fire.
About the Author:
Du Fu, Zimei, called himself Shaoling Naoao Lao, Du Gongbu, Du Shaoling, etc., Han nationality, Henan Province, Gongxian people, the Tang Dynasty, the great realist poet. Du Fu was honored as the "Sage of Poetry" and his poems were called the "History of Poetry". Dufu and Li Bai are collectively known as "Li Du", and in order to distinguish themselves from the other two poets, Li Shangyin and Du Mu, who are known as "Little Li Du", Dufu and Li Bai are also collectively known as "Big Li Du". He was a man of great concern for the country and the people, with a noble character. Some 1,400 of his poems have been preserved, and his poetic skill is so exquisite that he is highly respected in classical Chinese poetry, with far-reaching influence. Later generations have the Du Fu Cao Tang to commemorate him.