Spring Rain Clears in Lin’an - Lu You
/临安春雨初霁 - 陆游/
Reflections on a Calmed Rain in the Capital
【Original Chinese】
临安春雨初霁
世味年来薄似纱，
谁令骑马客京华。
小楼一夜听春雨，
深巷明朝卖杏花。
矮纸斜行闲作草，
晴窗细乳戏分茶。
素衣莫起风尘叹，
犹及清明可到家。
【Literal English Translation (Line by Line)】
When Spring Rain Clears in Lin’an
Life’s flavors grow faint like gauze in recent years—
Who made me ride a horse here, a traveler in the capital?
All through the night in this little tower, I listen to spring rain;
By morning, deep in the alley, they’ll be selling apricot blossoms.
On small scraps of paper, my slanted calligraphy drifts lazily;
At a sunlit window, I froth fine tea to share in play.
Wearing plain robes, let us not sigh over the dust of the road—
There’s still time before Qingming to make it back home.
临安春雨初霁
世味年来薄似纱，
谁令骑马客京华。
小楼一夜听春雨，
深巷明朝卖杏花。
矮纸斜行闲作草，
晴窗细乳戏分茶。
素衣莫起风尘叹，
犹及清明可到家。
【Literal English Translation (Line by Line)】
When Spring Rain Clears in Lin’an
Life’s flavors grow faint like gauze in recent years—
Who made me ride a horse here, a traveler in the capital?
All through the night in this little tower, I listen to spring rain;
By morning, deep in the alley, they’ll be selling apricot blossoms.
On small scraps of paper, my slanted calligraphy drifts lazily;
At a sunlit window, I froth fine tea to share in play.
Wearing plain robes, let us not sigh over the dust of the road—
There’s still time before Qingming to make it back home.
In “Spring Rain Clears in Lin’an,” Lu You (1125–1210) offers a snapshot of everyday life in the Southern Song capital (then called Lin’an, present-day Hangzhou) after a cleansing rain. Rather than echo his more famous patriotic laments, here the poet adopts a quieter tone, ruminating on the subtleties of urban life.
1. **Capital Life vs. Rural Yearning**
- Though known for his fervent calls to reconquer lost northern territories, Lu You begins this poem by remarking on how thin and fleeting life’s pleasures have become. He wonders why he remains a “traveler in the capital,” suggesting a subdued restlessness even amid spring’s charm.
2. **Spring Rain and Morning Commerce**
- The poem pivots to a nocturnal soundscape: gentle spring rain heard from a small upper story. With dawn comes a simple, endearing scene: locals selling fresh apricot blossoms in a narrow alley. The duality of nighttime stillness and the next day’s bustle anchors the reader in daily rhythms.
3. **Scholar’s Pastimes**
- Lines describing “small scraps of paper” and “slanted calligraphy” hint at the poet’s leisure, playing with brushstrokes rather than penning official documents. The mention of friends sharing finely frothed tea under a sunny window underscores a carefree moment, far from the rigors of court or battlefield.
4. **Homeward Reflection**
- The final couplet advises against lamenting “the dust of the road,” reminding us that simpler joys remain within reach. Alluding to the Qingming Festival—an occasion for family reunions and ancestral veneration—Lu You implies that even if worldly ambitions go unmet, returning home for tradition still carries hope and comfort.
Overall, this poem balances humility and contentment in a tranquil city scene. Unlike his many works championing patriotic duty, “Spring Rain Clears in Lin’an” highlights Lu You’s ability to find solace in small moments, daily rituals, and the promise of homeward journeys.
Key points
• Contrasts Lu You’s familiar patriotic tone with a gentle, domestic mood.
• Depicts city life after overnight rain—morning commerce, tea drinking, idle calligraphy.
• Suggests that even in a bustling capital, the poet remains drawn to the warmth of home.
• Captures a short pause from life’s complexities, inviting reflection on simple pleasures.
