The poet describes the lake and two maidens gathering lotus seeds.
画堂春
张先
外湖莲子长参差[1]，
霁山[2]青处鸥飞。
水天溶漾画桡迟[3]，
人影鉴[4]中移。
桃叶[5]浅声双唱，
杏红深色轻衣。
小荷障面避斜晖，
分得翠阴归。
注释：
[1]参差：长短不齐的样子。
[2]霁山：雨后的山。
[3]“水天”句：溶漾，水波荡漾的样子。画桡，指画船。迟，行驶缓慢。
[4]鉴：镜。此处指如镜的湖面。
[5]桃叶：指《桃叶歌》。东晋王献之有爱妾桃叶，王献之为其作《桃叶歌》。
Spring in Painted Hall
Zhang Xian
The lotus blooms in outer lake grow high and low;
After the rain over green hills fly the gulls white.
The painted boats on rippling water slowly go;
Our shadows move on mirror bright.
Two maidens sing the song of peach leaf in voices low,
Clad in light clothes apricot-red.
They come back with green shadow fed.
Notes：
The poet describes the lake and two maidens gathering lotus seeds.
