By Du Fu (Tang Dynasty)

On the day of the Start of Spring, the spring dish is served.

It reminds me of when I left the two capitals.

The white tofu is the white jade,

And the tender leek is the black hair of a fair lady.

My vision moves with the rolling water,

A traveler from Duling cannot suffer the sadness.

I still don’t know where I belong,

Asking my child to bring me some paper for a poem.

Notes: The “spring dish” refers to the fruit plate used to send to friends and relatives on the date of the Start of Spring. The two capitals refer to Chang’an (Xi’an) and Luoyang. Duling is the hometown of Du Fu, which is near Xi’an.