Untitled quatrain by Li Deyu 李德裕 (787-849)

石上溪荪发紫茸，

碧山幽蔼水溶溶。

菖花定是无人见，

春日惟应羽客逢。

The brook iris [1] on the rock is putting forth purple sprouts

Amidst lush mountains and deep verdure, where the water babbles.

These iris blossoms must be hidden from human sight;

Such a spring day is to be chanced upon only by the feathered ones [2].

* From Li Deyu, Huichang yi pin ji 會昌一品集, Yingyin Wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe, 1987) edition, vol. 1079, bianji 別集, 3.12a.

[1] Xisun is probably Iris sanguinea, an iris species native to many parts of East Asia.

[2] The “feathered ones” obviously refers to birds but also puns on Daoists or immortals who are believed to put on feathers and ascend to heavens after achieving immortality.  

Album leaf by Yun Shouping 惲壽平 (1633-1690)

Image credit: National Palace Museum, Taipei

清惲壽平畫花卉　冊　鳶尾。國立故宮博物院，台北，CC BY 4.0 @ www.npm.gov.tw