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.

