BRIEFLY SPARKLING

Just for the heck of it, and largely inspired by seeing someone else's lovely painting, I drew a magpie today. Which made me remember another poem by Meng Haoran, famous literatus of the Tang Dynasty (618 to 906 A.D.). As a degree-holder, Meng Haoran did not have a particularly illustrious career. But as a poet, he gained lasting fame.
His verse is approachable, and easy to read.
Gentle on the mind's eye.

秋霄月下有懷
['chau siu yuet haa yau waai']
Autumn evening moon inspired emotions.

秋空明月懸，光彩露沾濕。
驚鵲棲未定，飛螢捲簾入。
庭槐寒影疏，鄰杵夜聲急。
佳期曠何許，望望空佇立。

['chau hung ming yuet yuen, gwong choi lou jim sap, geng cheuk chai mei ding, fei ying kuen lim yap, ting waai hon ying so, luen chu ye seng kap, gaai kei kwong ho heui, mong mong hung ding lap']

The moon hangs in the autumn sky, its brilliance making the dew sparkle,
A startled magpie perches restlessly as flying fireflies come tumbling in...
The courtyard locust tree's sparse shadows, a neighbors' rice pestle sounds sharply this evening,
How long will this good time last? I just stand here looking at the firmament.


The visual distinctly posits fireflies entering or crossing the cold darkness of the locust tree's shadow, disturbed by the same harsh noise (the rice pestle) as the magpie.
A crystalized intense moment in time.

Rice pestles or pounders are used to dehusk rice.
It's actually more of a dull thumping sound.


螢

Fireflies (lampyridae) are a mid-to late summer phenomenon in central and southern China, adding by their brief mass flashing, which is sometimes amazingly synchronous, an otherworldly quality to forests and stands of trees near water at night.
Stenocladius is the most common genus in that zone.




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