Microseason Note: 乃東生

A micro-season of winter emergence

乃東生

冬深未退地微溫，
陰極初回一線根。
非花非色先於候，
乃東破土在霜痕。

痛來方識身為界，
靜久始知欲已存。
不待東風成爛漫，
一莖已足證其真。

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Winter has not yet withdrawn;
the earth holds only a faint warmth.
At the limit of yin,
a single thread at the root turns back.

Not flower, not colour,
it comes before its time.
Nai-dong breaks the soil
where frost still lies.

Only through pain did I learn the body has edges.
Only through stillness did I learn desire can remain without urging.

It does not wait for the east wind to become lavish.
One stalk is enough
to prove that life is already true.