“稚子弄冰” is a classic Chinese poem by Du Mu, which translates to “A Child Playing with Ice” in English. Below is a poetic translation of the poem, along with the original Chinese text for bilingual study.

A Child Playing with Ice

Original Chinese:

稚子金盆脱晓冰，

彩丝穿取当银钲。

敲成玉磬穿林响，

忽作玻璃碎地声。

Poetic Translation:

A child, with golden basin, frees the early ice,

Adorned with colored silk, it becomes a silver bell.

Tapped, it rings like jade chimes through the woods,

Suddenly, it shatters to the ground, a sound of glass.

This translation aims to capture the essence of the original poem, maintaining the imagery and the playfulness of the child with the ice. The English version seeks to convey the same sense of wonder and the delicate beauty of the moment.