One
of my favorite memories as a youth was rowing our boat onto the lake and
finding a quiet spot among the grasses and just sitting there. It was so
peaceful and it was a great chance to take in the beauty of nature. As twilight
set in, you could hear cows mooing from the distant fields. Depending on the
time of year, you could lay back and watch the geese in formation flying south
for the winter. Soon, it would be time to put the boat away before the lake
froze over and wait for the next spring. There are times I must admit when I wish
I still had that rowboat and I could find that place of peace and innocence once
again.
A light boat with short
oars- West Lake is good.
A gentle curve in the
green water,
Fragrant grass along the
dyke,
The faint sound of pipes
and song follows me everywhere.
Without a wind, the
water's surface lies as smooth as glaze.
I don't notice boats
passing,
Tiny movements start up
ripples,
Startled birds rise from
the sand and graze the bank in flight.
- Ouyang Xiu
