Spring in Full Measure

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

Plum blossoms fill a tree

Yet it blooms a little forlornly

The heavens simply refuse to let it snow

So white, with no snow to set it off

Like a fine play whose curtain has risen

Yet the most important guest is missing

[Pre-Chorus]

When the snow truly begins to fall

Those who only gaze at snow lack the roots of insight

[Chorus]

有梅无雪不精神 — Plum blossoms without snow lack spirit

有雪无诗俗了人 (Snow without poetry leaves one lacking refinement)

日暮诗成雪又纷纷 — At dusk the poem is finished and snow flurries down again

Together with the plum blossoms, they make spring complete

With either one missing, it cannot be true

Only with them all does spring have a soul

[Verse 2]

I grind ink beneath the window

My brush tip dips into dusk

Writing of the plum blossom's backbone and the snow's whiteness

Writing of the pure fragrance each possesses

Before a single line is settled

Outside the window, snow begins to fall more thickly

[Pre-Chorus]

A fine line of verse suddenly comes

As I set pen to paper, the snow is falling steadily

[Chorus]

有梅无雪不精神 — Plum blossoms without snow lack spirit

有雪无诗俗了人 (Snow without poetry leaves one lacking refinement)

日暮诗成雪又纷纷 — At dusk the poem is finished and snow flurries down again

Together with the plum blossoms, they make spring complete

With either one missing, it cannot be true

Only with them all does spring have a soul

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

Dusk falls as the poem is finished

Snow lays the courtyard fresh again

The plum blossoms are red and the snow is white

Poetry brings them together in marriage

Plum fragrance snow's whiteness poetry's music

None can do without the others as neighbors

[Bridge]

If spring were to give out scores

It takes plum blossoms, snow, and poetry together to earn full marks

Plum blossoms lend fragrance, snow lends beauty

The poem adds that final tenth of grace

And just like that all ten parts are complete

Only then does this year have a story to carry on

So do not begrudge the snow its cold

And do not begrudge the care that honing words takes

[Verse 4]

Tonight, all three are here

Plum petals have left their kisses on the poetry manuscript

Amid this spring beauty in all its fullness

Even I, to my surprise, have a share

So a person standing in their midst

Standing from the winter night all the way to dawn

[Final Chorus]

有梅无雪不精神 — Plum blossoms without snow lack spirit

有雪无诗俗了人 (Snow without poetry leaves one lacking refinement)

日暮诗成雪又纷纷 — At dusk the poem is finished and snow flurries down again

Together with the plum blossoms, they make spring complete

With either one missing, it cannot be true

Only with them all does spring have a soul

[Outro]

Snow is still falling, plum blossoms still blooming

I softly let the poem pass my lips