Preparing me chicken and rice, old friend,
You entertain me at your farm.
We watch the green trees that circle your village
And the pale blue of outlying mountains.
We open your window over garden and field,
To talk mulberry and hemp with our cups in our hands.
...Wait till the Mountain Holiday --
I am coming again in chrysanthemum time.
Original Poem
「过故人庄」
孟浩然
故人具鸡黍， 邀我至田家。
绿树村边合， 青山郭外斜。
开轩面场圃， 把酒话桑麻。
待到重阳日， 还来就菊花。
Interpretation
Composed during the Kaiyuan era when Meng Haoran lived in reclusive retirement near Lumen Mountain in Xiangyang, this poem records a visit to an old friend's rural home. It depicts serene pastoral scenery and warm friendship, standing as a classic of Chinese pastoral poetry - understated yet profound in its emotional depth.
First Couplet: "故人具鸡黍，邀我至田家。"
Gùrén jù jī shǔ, yāo wǒ zhì tiánjiā.
My old friend prepared chicken and millet, inviting me to his rustic home.
The opening directly establishes the scene with rustic hospitality. The simple "chicken and millet" meal symbolizes sincere affection, embodying both country customs and genuine warmth between friends.
Second Couplet: "绿树村边合，青山郭外斜。"
Lǜ shù cūn biān hé, qīng shān guō wài xié.
Emerald trees embrace the village; blue mountains slope beyond the walls.
This couplet paints tranquil pastoral scenery through layered spatial composition, with verdant village framed by distant mountains creating harmonious natural beauty.
Third Couplet: "开轩面场圃，把酒话桑麻。"
Kāi xuān miàn cháng pǔ, bǎ jiǔ huà sāng má.
Windows open to fields and gardens; cups raised, we talk of crops and mulberries.
Transitioning from scenery to human interaction, this shows friends conversing naturally about farming life while drinking, revealing their shared appreciation for simple pleasures.
Fourth Couplet: "待到重阳日，还来就菊花。"
Dài dào Chóngyáng rì, hái lái jiù júhuā.
When the Double Ninth comes, I'll return for your chrysanthemums.
The closing expresses affectionate anticipation for future meetings, conveying enduring friendship and love for this pastoral lifestyle.
Holistic Appreciation
The poem masterfully blends scene and emotion through seemingly plain narration. Without directly stating joy, every line radiates contentment; without overt expressions, each verse glows with camaraderie. This subtle artistry creates verses of deceptive simplicity with profound resonance.
Artistic Merits
The brilliance lies in its "subtle richness." Unadorned yet evocative language blends scene and emotion seamlessly. From country meal to landscape, then farming talk culminating in the chrysanthemum promise, it progresses naturally like flowing water. The nature descriptions are concise yet deep; the friendship portrayal plain yet intimate, embodying the ethereal tranquility unique to Chinese pastoral poetry - resembling ink wash paintings where sparse strokes convey deep feeling.
Insights
This timeless poem reminds us to cherish life's simplest yet most genuine connections. In our hectic world, its vision of unpretentious rural harmony retains powerful appeal. Through a country meal, window view, and casual conversation, the poet reveals life's fundamental joys - inviting us to rediscover inner peace amidst chaos, remembering that true contentment often grows where life flows most naturally.
Poem translator
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Meng Haoran (孟浩然), 689 - 740 AD, a native of Xiangyang, Hubei, was a famous poet of the Sheng Tang Dynasty. With the exception of one trip to the north when he was in his forties, when he was seeking fame in Chang'an and Luoyang, he spent most of his life in seclusion in his hometown of Lumenshan or roaming around.
