《四时田园杂兴》__范成大 (1226-1193)
A Selection of Rustic Poems by Fan Cheng Da (1126-1193) Translated by Kong Shiu Loon
Summer (1)
梅子金黄杏子肥 麥花雪白菜花稀 日長籬落無人過 惟有蜻蜒蛱蝶飛
Ripe plums golden almonds in bounty
Wheat flowers like snow vegetable flowers scanty
Long solitary days no one passes my hedged-in space
Except dragonflies and butterflies dash enjoying their plays
Summer (2) 
五月江吴麦秀寒 移秧披絮尚衣单 稻根科斗行如块 田水今年一尺宽
In the fifth moon rice thrives in southern paddies in cool weather
Farmers transplanting young shoots do not have enough to wear
Swarms of tadpoles cover the rice roots like a black sheet
‘Tis a good year water in the fields measures foot deep
Summer (5)
小妇连宵上绢机 大耆催税急於飞 今年幸甚蚕桑熟 留得黄丝织夏衣
My wife works on the loom night after night
The tax-collector calls for the dues an urgent drive
We are blessed this year both mulberry and worms thrive
There is enough silk to weave cloths for a summer supply
Summer (6)
下田戽水出江流 高垄翻江逆上沟 地势不齐人力尽 丁男长在踏车头
The low fields are easily watered by river flows
High fields obtain water by flumes and upward channels
Farmers can irrigate fields at all levels with ingenuity
Young men keep their feet on water machines diligently
Summer (7)
昼出耘田夜绩麻 村庄儿女各当家 童孙未解供耕织 也傍桑阴学种瓜
They work the fields at day and weave hemp cloth evenings
The village men and women keep their chores going
As children have no farming skills they yet know
They watch under mulberry shades to learn how melons grow
Summer (9)
黄尘行客汗如浆 少住侬家漱井香 借与门前磐石坐 柳阴亭午正风凉
A passer-by came sweating with grime in a cloud of dust
I invite him in for a cool drink of sweet well water
Refreshed he sits on the mill-stone by my door
Pleased with willow breezes he asks for nothing more
Summer (10)
千顷芙蕖放棹嬉 花深迷路晚忘归 家人暗识船行处 时有惊忙小鸭飞
I left my boat drifting in acres of lotus bloom
Lost in the beauty I’m forgetting to go home
My family knows my whereabouts as usual
Sudden fowls’ flights are predictables
Summer (12)
蜩螗千万沸斜阳 蛙黾无边聒夜长 不把痴聋相对治 梦魂争得到藜床
Noisy cicadas zither in the dying sun
Sleepless frogs croak until the night is done
If I do not dull my senses to be indifferent
How could dreams visit my bed often