THE MOURNING DAY

Wang Yucheng

(Northern Song Dynasty)

With nor flowers nor wine I passed the Mourning Day,

As drear as a friar begging all the way. 

I asked my neighbor tor new-made fire last night,

Lighting my lamp at dawn, I may read by its light.

清明

[北宋]王禹偁

无花无酒过清明,兴味萧然似野僧。

昨日邻家乞新火,晓窗分与读书灯。

About the poet 

Wang Yucheng was a Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) poet who was born in poverty but showed a talent for writing poems at a very early age.

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the book 

Golden Treasury of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Poetry Translated by Xu Yuanchong & Xu Ming, Published by China Intercontinental Press