弹压西风擅众芳，十分秋色为伊忙。
一枝淡贮书窗下，人与花心各自香。
月待圆时花正好，花将残后月还亏。
须知天上人间物，何禀清秋在一时。

A Seven-Character Verse by Zhu Shuzhen (Song Dynasty)

(Osmanthus fragrans)

In autumn wind, other flowers thou dost outshine,

As if autumn only busies adorning thee.

A fair twig of you stands afore the window mine,

We enjoy the fragrance betwixt you and me.

When thou art at thy best, the moon is full round,

As thou dost fade away, the moon eke in decline.

A beauty from heaven to earth, thee we have found,

Tho' thou blow’st in autumn only, why would we whine?

Tr. Ziyuzile

Friday 15 April 2022