The summer has been short and glorious. On September 7, the season will enter into “White Dew”(白露） – the third phase of Autumn in the 24 solar terms. Starting “White Dew” means the beginning of cool weather. White is the color of the metal element, and the metal element correlates with Autumn. With the dropping of temperatures, during the night there will be condensation of dew on the grass and leaves. To welcome this upcoming solar term, I would like to share a poem from the Classic of Odes, the oldest collection of Chinese poetry on record, written more than two thousand years ago. There are many translation of this poem. Here we will use a version from James Legge. The title Chien Chia, means reed.

Let’s gather the coolness and romance. Welcome to Easy Society!

Chien Chia
Translation：James Legge

Reed and rush are dark and green;
As hoarfrost the white dew is seen.
Him, the man I have in mind,
By this water I should find.
Searching, up the stream I haste,
On a long and toilsome quest.
Downwards then I turn, and see!
In the midstream standeth he.
He is there but far removed;
Vain has all my searching proved.

Reed and rush luxuriant rise;
Still undried the white dew lies.
Him, the man I have in mind,
On the stream’s edge I should find.
Upwards first my course I keep,
Though the way is rough and steep.
Downwards then, and what to see?
In the midstream standeth he,
On the islet, far removed;—
Vain has all my searching proved.

Reed and rush grow thick and tall;
Ceases not the dew to fall.
Him, the man I have in mind,
On the stream’s bank I should find.
Upwards first I go along,
But the hard path leads me wrong.
Downwards then my steps I turn,
And in midstream him discern,
On the island, far removed;—
Vain has all my searching proved.

https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/index.htm

蒹葭

蒹葭苍苍，白露为霜。

所谓伊人，在水一方！

溯洄从之，道阻且长。

溯游从之，宛在水中央。

蒹葭凄凄，白露未晞。

所谓伊人，在水之湄。

溯洄从之，道阻且跻，

溯游从之，宛在水中坻。

蒹葭采采，白露未已。

所谓伊人，在水之涘。

溯洄从之，道阻且右。

溯游从之，宛在水中沚