Poem in running script

Object Details

• Artist

  Wen Zhengming 文徵明 (1470-1559)

• Label

  Wen Zhengming's poem, titled At Leisure in My Studio at Year's End, may be translated as follows:

  The lane at my gate is desolate and drear, few are those who come to call;

  I find the true flavor of restful leisure in lounging about doing nothing.

  A wayward rooster in the quiet of the day crows within the deep courtyard;

  Chill sparrows shelter from western winds in this little stand of trees.

  All my affairs have slipped into arrears as the year draws to its close;

  My friends are scattered few and far apart and the rain just drizzles on.

  Fragrance fades from the incense burner and the teacups have toppled over;

  I have composed a poem on plum blossoms, but am sorry it's not well done.

  Translation by Stephen D. Allee

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Painting with Words: Gentlemen Artists of the Ming Dynasty (April 16 to July 24, 2016)

  Masterpieces of Chinese Calligraphy (June 7, 1994 to March 20, 1995)

  Chinese Calligraphy (May 9, 1980 to November 14, 1980)

  Chinese Art—Stone Sculpture (September 1, 1979 to March 14, 1982)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Regents' Collections Acquisition Program

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1530s

• Name

  Wen, Zhengming

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Poetry, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Running script

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)