Winter Ridges Show Their Hardy Pines

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

The waters rise in spring

Spreading across the countryside, the marsh lies smooth as a mirror

Waterbirds skim the water in flight

Breaking pool after pool of reflected sky and clouds

The field ridges have softened

New shoots push through the soil, quietly stirring to life

[Pre-Chorus]

Before I have seen enough of the spring waters

And summer clouds already hurry to gather

[Chorus]

春水满四泽，夏云多奇峰 — Spring waters fill the marshes on all sides, summer clouds form wondrous peaks

秋月扬明晖，冬岭秀寒松 — The autumn moon spreads its bright radiance, winter ridges display their hardy pines

Four faces through the year, each one serene

None steals another’s scenery

Whoever's turn it is to take the stage, let them give it their all

One turn of the four seasons, and a whole life has passed

[Verse 2]

Summer clouds are the most restless

Now piling into peaks, now lining up as dragons

The wind kneads them back and forth

Kneading out an unexpected shape

My neck aches from gazing so long

Clouds are still overhead, churning without end

[Pre-Chorus]

A thunderstorm sees summer off

The autumn moon rises brightest of all

[Chorus]

春水满四泽，夏云多奇峰 — Spring waters fill the marshes on all sides, summer clouds form wondrous peaks

秋月扬明晖，冬岭秀寒松 — The autumn moon spreads its bright radiance, winter ridges display their hardy pines

Four faces through the year, each one serene

None steals another’s scenery

Whoever's turn it is to take the stage, let them give it their all

One turn of the four seasons, and a whole life has passed

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

The autumn moon casts forth its bright radiance

Filling the courtyard, and filling the mountaintop

The rice has bowed its head

In the sound of the sickles, there is nothing but harvest

The evening breeze carries the grain’s fragrance far

Carrying it up to the moon, and into dreams

[Bridge]

The ridges are leanest in winter

So gaunt that only the ridges of its bones remain

The other trees have all come to rest

Only the pine in the cold, still holds aloft its lush green

When the snow falls

The green of pine needles, more steadfast even than snow

This is how the four seasons turn

No one has shirked, and no one has shown off

[Verse 4]

I live my days through the four seasons

Sow in spring and harvest in autumn, store in winter and till in summer

Learn water's fullness, learn the clouds' changing ways

Learn the moon's brightness, learn the pine's upright bearing

The four seasons are the finest teacher

Charging no tuition, teaching only peace

[Final Chorus]

春水满四泽，夏云多奇峰 — Spring waters fill the marshes on all sides, summer clouds form wondrous peaks

秋月扬明晖，冬岭秀寒松 — The autumn moon spreads its bright radiance, winter ridges display their hardy pines

Four faces through the year, each one serene

None steals another’s scenery

Whoever's turn it is to take the stage, let them give it their all

One turn of the four seasons, and a whole life has passed

[Outro]

Another spring has come

The four seasons turn, an unhurried clock