Camellias (山茶花)

It's a really wonderful experience to walk upon a mountain full of camellias after the rain. As far as the eyes can see, there are white camellias, camellias and camellias dotting the dewy deep green of the hillside, sparkling like so many little stars.

I like the drops of rain upon their petals,

or embroidering their edges.

I like the bean like tips of their stamina

like so many heads of the bean sprout.

I like the way they stick so close together and yet not getting into each others' way.

They stick their heads out in so many different directions,

Some upwards,

Others sideways.

And their sepals like to form themselves into a different kind of flower,  with its own shape and color.



They usually grow all by themselves but there can be exceptions too, like these two who seem quite happy to huddle together for company.

Many poems have been written about them. I set out below one by a Sung dynasty poet I like, Su Shi, together with my own translation.

山茶 游蜂掠盡粉絲黃  落蕊猶收蜜露香 待得春風幾枝在 年來殺菽有飛霜 蘇軾

Camellias Roving bees robbing pollen of its silky yellow                           Falling stamen still gathering from honey dew its bouquet             How many branches can await the breezes of spring               There’s always flying frost killing its seeds through the years  Su Shi  (tr. El Zorro)