Pale-dark Plums

Introducion:

This poem is inscribed on one of the poet's plum blossom paintings. As he admires the plum character of being delicately fragrant, elegant and noble, he paints the plum flowers only in pale-dark ink, by which he suggests that he stands apart and aloof from the worldly affairs, rejects flattery, even praise and lives solely for purity and nobility of the soul.   

 

Text:

Mò Méi

墨  梅

王冕(元)

 

Wǒ jiā   xǐ yàn chí tóu shù ，duǒ duǒ huā kāi dàn mò hén。

我 家 洗砚   池 头    树 ， 朵    朵   花 开   淡  墨  痕 。

Bú yào rén kuā yán sè hǎo，zhǐ  liú  qīng qì mǎn qián kūn。

不 要   人   夸   颜 色 好， 只 留 清 气 满     乾   坤 。

 

Pale-dark Plums

Wang Mian (Yuan)

 

In the pond the brushes and inkstone I clean,

The trees above it all pale-dark blossoms bear.

For praises of fair colors they appear not to care,

But leave to the vast universe their scents serene.

 

Comment:

 

This poem is inscribed on one of the poet's plum blossom paintings. As he admires the plum character of being delicately fragrant, elegant and noble, he paints the plum flowers only in pale-dark ink, by which he suggests that he stands apart and aloof from the worldly affairs, rejects flattery, even praise and lives solely for purity and nobility of the soul. The wording of his poetry is plain as spoken language, expressive and free from ostentation.