Tu Siushan's My Friend Came One Cold Night 杜耒 寒夜客來茶當酒 竹爐湯沸火初紅。 Poem by Frank Yue

My Friend Came One Cold Night
- by Tu Siushan (? -1227, Song Dynasty)
- Translated by Frank C Yue

My friend came one cold night,
A pot of hot tea instead of wine -
To a boil bamboo stove brought water fine,
While the fire first burned red and bright.

Then the Moon-in-window commonly seen,
Presented a different scene -
For at these particular hours
Bloomed a full branch of sweet plum flowers.


《寒夜客來》 宋 ‧ 杜耒

寒夜客來茶當酒，
竹爐湯沸火初紅。
尋常一般窗前月，
纔有梅花便不同。