屈大均《廣州荔支詞》“On the lychee of Guangzhou” by Qu Dajun (1630-1696)

未曾夏至難齊熟，

最喜蟬聲日日催。

笑口但令香玉滿，

愁心盡与絳囊開。

It's hard to see [lychee fruits] all ripen together before the summer solstice,

[So] the urgent sound of cicadas day after day is most welcome.

As long as the laughing mouth is filled with the fragrant jade,

Any sullen heart will open up like the crimson pouch.

* Qu Dajun 屈大均 (1630-1696), Qu Dajun quanji 屈大均全集 (Beijing: Renmin wenxue chubanshe, 1996), 1205.

Album leaf by Jiang Tingxi 蔣廷錫 (1669-1732)

Image credit: National Palace Museum, Taipei

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