120

This was the seventh of a series of nine poems Tu Fu (712–770) wrote in 761 when he was living just outside the provincial capital of Chengtu. The fifth poem in this series is verse 112. Here, he describes the simple yet remarkable scene around his cottage as spring gives way to summer.

Inspired

TU FU

Willow fuzz lines the path with bolts of white felt

lily pads dot the stream with stacks of green coins

the offspring of bamboo haven’t yet appeared

ducklings on the shore sleep beside their mother