游子吟 A Traveller’s Song
Meng Jiao 孟郊 · Tang, late 8th or early 9th century
A mother sews her son’s clothes, and he asks how a child could repay her care.
慈母手中线，游子身上衣。 cí mǔ shǒu zhōng xiàn, yóu zǐ shēn shàng yī.
Thread in a loving mother’s hand; clothes on her travelling son.
临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归。 lín xíng mì mì féng, yì kǒng chí chí guī.
Before he leaves, she sews close stitches, afraid he will be slow to return.
谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。 shéi yán cùn cǎo xīn, bào dé sān chūn huī.
Who could say a little blade of grass can repay the sunshine of a whole spring?