On a Painting of a White-Haired Old Man by Yuan Mei

Who’d paint a white-haired ancient?
I smile. I’d rather be a duck.
If you’re born with your head snow-white already,
no one can laugh and shout, “You’re getting old!”

translated by J.P. Seaton

6 thoughts on “On a Painting of a White-Haired Old Man by Yuan Mei

  1. I suppose you know the song “Be kind to your web footed friends , for a duck may be somebodies brother etc.
    It’s good to read the old mystics with a sense of humour.

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