April 27, 2020
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c928eb-8234-4bc2-b680-ae6e79187e97_1500x1000.jpeg)
Ten days of spring cold kept me indoors;
I didn’t know willows were budding in the village.
In the frozen valley, a stream gurgles faintly;
sheets of green hide burnt stubble in the fields.
A few acres of poor land hold me here;
warming half a jug of cloudy wine, I wait for you.
A year ago today I crossed the mountain pass -
fine rain on plum flowers nearly broke my spirit.
— Su Tung-p’o