Near the Cold Food Day 1 grass grows luxuriantly in the rain.
The wind blows the wheat seedlings
And the willow trees shade the embankment.
Why in the world do I not go home?
Cuckoo! Please do not cry near my ears 2.
1
The Cold Food Day occurs one or two days before the Pure Brightness. Some
say the purpose of the Cold Food Day is to honor Hermit Chih-T'ui Chieh. Others say the day
originated from the Chow dynasty's old tradition of prohibiting fire. On this
day, people are prohibited from using fire in the kitchen and, as a result, they eat
only cold food. The Pure Brightness is the day when a family pays tribute to its
ancestors by visiting their tombs. The date is April 5th or 6th. From the Cold
Food Day to the Pure Brightness, a family gets together to have a field trip or
go sightseeing. Consequently, travelers are most homesick during this time
period.
2
Cuckoo's voice is sad. It sounds like "it is better to go back" in
mandarin (Chinese). It is often used in old Chinese poems to describe the
homesickness of a traveler.