Proverbs and Poems in Winter Solstice

Expressing My Feelings after Reading My Old Poems on the Winter Solstice

By the Qianlong Emperor (Qing Dynasty)

Quietly listening to the sandglass in the palace from far away,
I stay at my study for a while, free from the state affairs.
I want to find some lines to describe the clean scenery,
The cold fragrance of the plum blossom comes just in time.
In my spare time, I check the books and writings accumulated on my desk,
Hoping to pick up the old knowledge again.
In the middle of the night, I write some lines down with the ash of incense growing,
To celebrate that there is one more yang in heaven.