Birthday poem · January 5Winter Solstice, the 22nd solar term: the longest night of the year.
Birth character
雲 yún · cloud
雲 means cloud; the older form 云 shows swirling vapour.
白雲生處有人家
“Where rise white clouds, there appear cottages and bowers.” — Du Mu, ‘Mountain Walk’
Other dates with this poem: October 9
The poem
“Farewell to a Friend” 送友人
- 青山橫北郭qīng shān héng běi guōGreen mountains bar the northern sky;
- 白水繞東城bái shuǐ rào dōng chéngWhite water girds the eastern town.
- 此地一爲別cǐ dì yī wéi biéHere is the place to say goodbye;
- 孤蓬萬里徵gū péng wàn lǐ zhēngYou'll drift like lonely thistledown.
- 浮雲遊子意fú yún yóu zǐ yìWith floating cloud you'll float away;
- 落日故人情luò rì gù rén qíngLike parting day I'll part from you.
- 揮手自茲去huī shǒu zì zī qùYou wave your hand and go your way;
- 蕭蕭班馬鳴xiāo xiāo bān mǎ míngOur steeds still neigh as if to say adieu.
Why this poem
Li Bai's farewell: "drifting clouds, a traveller's mind; setting sun, an old friend's feeling".
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Winter Solstice.