19th century or later

Poem of Autumn

Weng Zhengming came to be known as one of the Four Master Painters of the Ming dynasty. His many students and followers in Suzhou, China, helped to create a new upsurge in literati painting. He is also renowned for his calligraphy and poetry, both of which appear in this work.

The semicursive script translates:

I try to bear the autumn colors of the river and city.
The kingfisher cries from the willow tree, the cicada is captured in the mist.
The Southern Country's new, cool songs whiten the nettles.
The West Lake evening rain falls on the red lotus.
A solitary beautiful woman is still and empty in the melancholy sunset.
The flowers decorating her hair fall like rain without waiting to be harvested.
She does not lean toward the door screen, but gazes with increasing disappointment.
In the clearing dusk many gather before a little two-storied building.