The Ink Plum (Translation) Poem by Perdita Young (Hanna Wang)

mò méi
墨 梅 （王冕）

wú jiā xǐ yàn chí tóu shù
吾 家 洗 砚 池 头 树
gè gè huā kāi dàn mò hén
个 个 花 开 淡 墨 痕
bú yào rén kuā hǎo yán sè
不 要 人 夸 好 颜 色
zhī liú qīng qì mǎn qián kūn
只 流 清 气 满 乾 坤

* * *

The Ink Plum(by wáng miǎn)
-
The plum tree by my Inkstone Pool is in bloom now,
Each of its petals the tints of light ink on the bough.
Of gorgeous looks or color, it has surely none,
Only its clean scent wafts in the cosmos off and on.

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Translated by Perdita, Oct 26th,2017.