South Hall Tom Sharp

1. The windows of the southern hall face west, showing the Yangtze River and western mountains. I lie here and watch a thousands sails set anchor along the shoal. 2. I’m sick, but I can still see well and my hair’s not white. I pretend to write in the failing light. The alchemy of words warms up the hall. 3. If I can’t sleep on a rainy night, I listen to the rain on the new tiles and I believe I can smell the small lotus flowers in Dongwu. 4. Our lives here are dripping in honey. Even my children grow acres of vegetables. Nantang is a good place to visit. It’s a good place to invite your friends. 5. We sweep the floor and burn incense. The rattan mat is woven like water. The silk curtain hangs like smoke. When a guest wakes up in this room, he can look out the west window and collect the waves from his dreams.

南堂五首 苏轼

一 江上西山半隐堤，此邦台馆一时西。 南堂独有西南向，卧看千帆落浅溪。 二 暮年眼力嗟犹在，多病颠毛却未华。 故作明窗书小字，更开幽室养丹砂。 三 他时雨夜困移床，坐厌愁声点客肠。 一听南堂新瓦响，似闻东坞小荷香。 四 山家为割千房蜜，稚子新畦五亩蔬。 更有南堂堪著客，不忧门外故人车。 五 扫地焚香闭阁眠，簟纹如水帐如烟。 客来梦觉知何处，挂起西窗浪接天。