The poem ‘Twin Ducks on the Pool’ was created by the Tang Dynasty poet Xue Tao. Xue Tao lived with his father Xue Yun in Chengdu during his childhood. He was able to write poetry at the age of eight or nine. However, due to his father’s death and family’s poverty, he met Wei Gao, the military governor of Jiannan Xichuan, at the age of sixteen and was summoned to compose poetry and drink wine. As a result, he entered the music industry. Xue Tao was beautiful, sensitive, knowledgeable in music, talented, and had a great reputation for a while. She frequently visited the shogunate as both a courtesan and a Qing guest. Xue Tao had singing exchanges with famous poets at that time, such as Yuan Zhen, Bai Juyi, Zhang Ji, Wang Jian, Liu Yuxi, Du Mu, Zhang Hu, etc. Xue Tao, along with Liu Caichun, Yu Xuanji, and Li Ye, is known as one of the four great female poets of the Tang Dynasty. She is also known as one of the four talented women of Shu, along with Zhuo Wenjun, Lady Huarui, and Huang E.
《池上双凫》是由唐代诗人薛涛创作的一首诗词。薛涛幼年随父薛郧流寓成都，八九岁能诗，后因父死家贫，十六岁时遇到剑南西川节度使韦皋，被召令赋诗侑酒，遂入乐籍。薛涛姿容美艳，性敏慧，通晓音律，多才艺，声名倾动一时，以歌妓而兼清客的身份多出入幕府。薛涛和当时著名的诗人元稹、白居易、张籍、王建、刘禹锡、杜牧、张祜等人都有唱酬交往。薛涛与刘采春、鱼玄机、李冶，并称唐朝四大女诗人，并与卓文君、花蕊夫人、黄娥并称蜀中四大才女。
Xue Tao and Yuan Zhen had a beautiful romantic relationship. Yuan Zhen, who was sent to Shu as an imperial censor, had long heard of Xue Tao’s beauty and poetry, and was very interested in him. With the help of Sikong Yanshou, the two met. Xue Tao was deeply attracted to this promising and talented young talent. The strong shock of love gave her the desire to live together with Yuan Zhen. However, the good times didn’t last long, and Yuan Zhen left after a year. At that time, Xue Tao was already 46 years old, and his youth had reached the end of autumn. Yuan Zhen was also an indulgent and passionate person, and Xue Tao calmly and rationally broke off this relationship. Only this poem remains, filled with beautiful memories of past affection.
薛涛和元稹有过一段美好的情缘。以御史身份出使蜀地的元稹，早就听说了薛涛的艳名和诗名，对薛涛很感兴趣，在司空严绶帮助下，二人见面。薛涛深深为这位前途远大、才华横溢的青年才俊所吸引。爱的强烈震撼，让她有了和元稹双宿双栖的愿望。不过好景不长，一年以后元稹离开。那时薛涛已经四十六岁，芳华已至秋暮，元稹又是一个放纵多情的人，薛涛冷静理智地断了这段感情。留下来的也只有这首诗，写满了对往日恩爱的美好回忆。
薛涛·《池上双凫》
双栖绿池上，朝去暮飞还。
更忆将雏日，同心莲叶间。
A Pair of Birds on a Lake
Xue Tao
A pair of birds come to rest
on a pond of aquamarine;
in the mornings they fly away,
and in the evenings return.
Reminiscent of when the hen
had fledglings in her care,
their hearts join in communion
in their lotus leaf lair.
（Bannie Chow, Thomas Cleary 译）
