Opening line of 《
江南》(Jiangnan), a Han-dynasty yuefu
乐府 folk song collected in 《
乐府诗集》:
江南可采莲，
莲叶何田田。
鱼戏莲叶间——
鱼戏莲叶东，
鱼戏莲叶西，
鱼戏莲叶南，
鱼戏莲叶北 (In Jiangnan, lotus can be gathered; how lush the lotus leaves! Fish play among the lotus leaves — east of them, west of them, south of them, north of them). A joyful, nearly pre-literary piece, usually taught as a child's first classical poem.
