Recitation: Spring View

On war-torn land streams flow and mountains stand;

In vernal town grass and weeds are overgrown.

Grieved over the years, flowers make us shed tears;

Hating to part, hearing birds breaks our heart.

The beacon fire has gone higher and higher;

Words from household are worth their weight in gold.

I cannot bear to scratch my grizzling hair;

It grows too thin to hold a light hairpin.

By Du Fu, a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty.