五言古诗

Five-character-quatrain

王维

Wang Wei

渭川田家

A FARM-HOUSE ON THE WEI RIVER

斜光照墟落,

In the slant of the sun on the country-side,

穷巷牛羊归。

Cattle and sheep trail home along the lane;

野老念牧童,

And a rugged old man in a thatch door

倚杖候荆扉。

Leans on a staff and thinks of his son, the herdboy.

雉雊麦苗秀,

There are whirring pheasants? full wheat-ears,

蚕眠桑叶稀。

Silk-worms asleep, pared mulberry-leaves.

田夫荷锄立,

And the farmers, returning with hoes on their shoulders,

相见语依依。

Hail one another familiarly.

即此羡闲逸,

...No wonder I long for the simple life

怅然吟式微。

And am sighing the old song, Oh, to go Back Again!