Reflections on Reading

by Zhu Xi (Song Dynasty)
Tr. by Hua Ching Ni

半畝方塘一鑑開,

天光雲影共徘徊。

問渠那得清如許,

為有源頭活水來

A pond of half an acre
is like a mirror reflecting the sky.

From high in the sky often comes
the shadow of flying clouds,
making their visit then quickly passing.

How can I attain such purity?

Because within me there is a living fountain.