Visiting in Winter the Two Learned Monks in the Lonely Hill
- Poetry of Su Shi

天欲雪，云满湖，楼台明灭山有无。

水清出石鱼可数，林深无人鸟相呼。

腊日不归对妻祭，名寻道人实自娱。

道人之居在何许？宝云山前路盘纡。

孤山孤绝谁肯庐，道人有道山不孤。

纸窗竹屋深自暖，拥褐坐睡依团蒲。

天寒路远愁仆夫，整驾催归及未哺。

出山回望云木合，但见野鹊盘浮图。

兹游淡泊欢有馀，到家侃如梦蓬蓬。

作诗火急追亡通，清景一失后难摹。

It seems that snow will fall On a cloud-covered lake, Hills loom and fade, towers appear and disappear.

Fish can be count'd among the rocks in water clear; Birds call back and forth in the deep woods men forsake.

I cannot go home on this lonely winter day, So I visit the monks to while my time away.

Who can show me the way which leads to their door-sill?

Follow the winding path to the foot of the hill.

The Lonely Hill is so lonesome. Who will dwell there?

Strong in faith, there's no loneliness but they can bear.

Paper windows keep them warm in bamboo cottage deep; 

Sitting in their coarse robes, on round rush mats they sleep.

My lackeys grumble at cold weather and long road, They hurry me to go before dusk to my abode.

Leaving the hill,I look back and see woods and cloud Mingled and wild birds circling the pagoda proud.

This trip has not tired me but left an aftertaste, Come back,I seem to see in dreams the scene retraced.

I hasten to write down in verse what I saw then, For the scene lost to sight can't be revived again.