Wǔxíng Category: Water (水)
5-xx
Stepping through the circular frame of the moon gate,
The heavy air of the enclosure settles over the stones.
A central Méihuā (Plum Blossom) stands anchored in the damp soil,
Its resilient winter branches reaching toward the gray sky.
Beneath its canopy, a dark, tranquil pond swells,
Teeming with colorful carp that flash through the shadows,
Navigating between the rising stalks of the Liánhuā (Lotus)
And the floating, flat leaves of the Shuǐlián (Water Lily).
The stillness of the surface mimics an ancient mirror,
Holding the sky captive within a border of stone.
I watch the heavy moisture bead upon the dark wood,
Wondering how deep the cold currents run beneath.
I have poured my soul into the molding of this earth,
Gathering the rains to sustain a perfect, silent world.
But the depths are quiet and full of unsaid things,
Where the mind wanders through the chill of the evening,
Searching for the line where protection becomes a wall.
Along the high, white perimeter of the courtyard,
A dense grove of Zhú (Bamboo) rustles softly in the damp breeze.
The emerald stalks sway in unison against the brick,
Sheltering a quiet corner where delicate Lánhuā (Orchid) bloom.
Nearby, the grand, heavy petals of the Mǔdān (Peony) unfold,
Beside the elegant, pale blossoms of the Yùlánhuā (Magnolia),
Each showcasing vibrant bursts of rich color,
Fed by the slow mist trapped within the masonry.
She sits softly upon the damp grass in a Hánfú,
A vision of ancient grace framed by the turning season.
The fabric sweeps across the moss like a falling wave,
While a restless carp rises from the dark silt below,
Nibbling gently at her fingers for a moment of attention.
She smiles down at the water, lost in her own thoughts,
And I am frozen in the space between the air and the deep,
Unsure if the life I have cultivated here is a sanctuary,
Or if the fluid that sustains us has grown too heavy to move.
Near the smooth stone paths, clusters of Júhuā (Chrysanthemum) cluster,
And bright Hǎitáng (Begonia) frame the edge of the walkway.
Overhead, a weathered wooden trellis groans under the weight,
Draping long, cascading clusters of purple Zǐténg (Wisteria).
The sweet, nostalgic scent of the Guìhuā (Osmanthus) drifts low,
Carried by the damp air that clings to the skin,
Weaving through the dense layout of the flora,
As the afternoon shadows lengthen across the paradise.
My love has built this intricate garden for her,
Selecting every root and placing every stone with care.
I have charted the channels to keep the soil fertile,
Just to see the reflection of her beauty in the water.
Yet the high walls keep the rest of the world at bay,
And the air remains still, trapped within the perimeter.
Does she breathe easily among these crowded blossoms,
Or does she look up past the hanging purple vines,
Seeing this beautiful sanctuary only as a gilded cage?
刘嘉文
© 2026 Liujiawen2024. All Rights
May 21
May 21, 2026 at 4:35 PM UTC
Wǔxíng Category: Water (水)
5-xx
Stepping through the circular frame of the moon gate,
The heavy air of the enclosure settles over the stones.
A central Méihuā (Plum Blossom) stands anchored in the damp soil,
Its resilient winter branches reaching toward the gray sky.
Beneath its canopy, a dark, tranquil pond swells,
Teeming with colorful carp that flash through the shadows,
Navigating between the rising stalks of the Liánhuā (Lotus)
And the floating, flat leaves of the Shuǐlián (Water Lily).
The stillness of the surface mimics an ancient mirror,
Holding the sky captive within a border of stone.
I watch the heavy moisture bead upon the dark wood,
Wondering how deep the cold currents run beneath.
I have poured my soul into the molding of this earth,
Gathering the rains to sustain a perfect, silent world.
But the depths are quiet and full of unsaid things,
Where the mind wanders through the chill of the evening,
Searching for the line where protection becomes a wall.
Along the high, white perimeter of the courtyard,
A dense grove of Zhú (Bamboo) rustles softly in the damp breeze.
The emerald stalks sway in unison against the brick,
Sheltering a quiet corner where delicate Lánhuā (Orchid) bloom.
Nearby, the grand, heavy petals of the Mǔdān (Peony) unfold,
Beside the elegant, pale blossoms of the Yùlánhuā (Magnolia),
Each showcasing vibrant bursts of rich color,
Fed by the slow mist trapped within the masonry.
She sits softly upon the damp grass in a Hánfú,
A vision of ancient grace framed by the turning season.
The fabric sweeps across the moss like a falling wave,
While a restless carp rises from the dark silt below,
Nibbling gently at her fingers for a moment of attention.
She smiles down at the water, lost in her own thoughts,
And I am frozen in the space between the air and the deep,
Unsure if the life I have cultivated here is a sanctuary,
Or if the fluid that sustains us has grown too heavy to move.
Near the smooth stone paths, clusters of Júhuā (Chrysanthemum) cluster,
And bright Hǎitáng (Begonia) frame the edge of the walkway.
Overhead, a weathered wooden trellis groans under the weight,
Draping long, cascading clusters of purple Zǐténg (Wisteria).
The sweet, nostalgic scent of the Guìhuā (Osmanthus) drifts low,
Carried by the damp air that clings to the skin,
Weaving through the dense layout of the flora,
As the afternoon shadows lengthen across the paradise.
My love has built this intricate garden for her,
Selecting every root and placing every stone with care.
I have charted the channels to keep the soil fertile,
Just to see the reflection of her beauty in the water.
Yet the high walls keep the rest of the world at bay,
And the air remains still, trapped within the perimeter.
Does she breathe easily among these crowded blossoms,
Or does she look up past the hanging purple vines,
Seeing this beautiful sanctuary only as a gilded cage?
刘嘉文
© 2026 Liujiawen2024. All Rights
Project Title: Elements of the Heart
Volume 5: Water (水 - Shuǐ) - Wisdom and Flow
Poem 5-xx
Authored 21MAY26
