Translation of "Inscription on Painting": In the evening after the rain in the countryside, the sky is particularly clear, and the peach blossoms are reflected in the water, making them even brighter.

The shepherd boy who was herding the cows didn’t know where he was going. He only saw a gull on the back of the cow in the distance, sleeping soundly.

Original poem

Notes:

①Village: village.

②Wing Qing: It clears up after the evening rain.

③Where: where, where

Appreciation

When Yuan Mei wrote this poem, Yuan Mei was already in his sixties, but the childlike innocence of the poet was still intact.

The first two sentences are like a picture of cattle herding in midsummer. The last two sentences are the finishing touch of "what you see". The demeanor of the shepherd boy who wants to catch cicadas has already appeared on the page. The poet's observations are exquisite and penetrating. A scene that is common to everyone, once it comes to Zicai's pen, it becomes a poetic realm that is unprecedented in anyone's pen.

The whole poem is a blend of scenes and artistic conceptions, implicit and interesting.

About the author

Yuan Mei (March 25, 1716 - January 3, 1798), also known as Zicai, also known as Ruiguan, also known as Jianzhai and No. 1 Cunzhai. Because he lived in seclusion in Suiyuan, Xiaocangshan, Jiangning, he was known as Mr. Suiyuan. In his later years, he called himself Cangshan layman, Suiyuan old man, Cangshan old man, etc.

A famous poet, essayist, literary critic, novelist, thinker and gourmet in the Qing Dynasty.