(Source: nipic.com)

By Yu Shi (Song Dynasty)

Shutting the gates, I read The Book of Changes.

The wind has stopped, and the room is filled with fragrance.

The rain falls on the empty steps, covered by leaves.

The inkstone is frozen on the desk with a few plum blossoms.

The birds tweet in the deep night as if they are talking to each other,

The dog barks in the house of my neighbor where I can see some light.

I sleep by the window with my arms under my head,

Only in dreams, I can get away from this secular world.

(Source: nipic.com)

About the poet:

Yu Shi (1250- ?), a.k.a. Jie Wen, a.k.a. Ziyan or Liangxi, was born in Lanxi City in Zhejiang province. He was said to have an imposing appearance and remain aloof from politics and material pursuits. After the disintegration of the Song Dynasty (1279), he lived in seclusion. Most of his poems are sad and penetrating. He left behind three collections of poems.

Source: baike.baidu.com

Translated by Zhang Min