3月7日

勉學詩
明 方孝孺 ( 1357~1402 )

莫驅屋上烏，烏有反哺誠。
莫烹池上鴈，鴈行如弟兄。
流觀飛走倫，轉見天地情。
人生處骨肉，胡不心自平？
田家一聚散，草木為枯榮。
我願三春日，垂光照紫荊。
同根而並蒂，藹藹共生成。

──選自《遜志齋集》

March 7th

Encouragement for Learning
Fang Xiaoru (1357 - 1402, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Chase away not those crows on the roof,
For they will return to feed their parents*.
Cook not those wild geese on the lakes,
In flight, they are like brothers.

Witnessing the relations between birds and beasts,
Subsequently reveals the sentiments of nature.
Life itself is tied with family bondage,
How can you not have empathy?

Every union and farewell at the farmer’s house,
Grass and trees thrive and wilt over such.
I vow for three days in spring,
To shed light on an orchid tree;
Along with the same root and same stalk,
To grow and flourish as one.

── from Xunzhi Zhai Ji (Collection of Works from Xunzhi’s Study)

*According to legend, crows are filial pious.