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Lu Yu (1125–1210) was an orphan who was raised by monks at a monastery in Tienmen in Hupei province. He was one of the most romantic figures of his day and was known for his support of efforts to recover North China from the Khitans, as well as for the travel diary he wrote about his journey to Szechuan and for his book on tea. But he was also the most prolific lyric poet of the Sung and left behind nearly 10,000 poems. He spent the last twenty years of his life in Chekiang province in Shaohsing and built a retreat at the city’s East Lake, which was once a quarry and was known for its precipitous rock formations, shaded bays, and bamboo-lined shores. Some editions attribute this poem to Huang T’ing-chien.

New Bamboo at East Lake

LU YU

I planted thorns and built a fence to keep them safe

their growing emerald canes shimmer in the ripples

autumn arrives first where a breeze cools the earth

the summer sun overhead is far away at noon

they make a rustling sound as they discard their wrappers

and cast spindly shadows as they put forth new branches

I plan to visit often as soon as I stop working

and take my mat and pillow when I go