桃花源 (Peach Blossom)

忽逢桃花林，夹岸数百步。
中无杂树，芳草鲜美，落英缤纷。

以上取自陶渊明的桃花源记。陶渊明（365—427），东晋浔阳柴桑人，字元亮，名潜，世称靖节先生，自称五柳先生，著名诗人。 说起陶渊明，总会想起他那“不为五斗米折腰”的故事。 虽说他是以田园诗句成名，我本人却较偏爱桃花源记与一首关于友情的杂诗：

人生无根蒂,飘如陌上尘。
分散逐风转,此已非常身。
落地为兄弟,何必骨肉亲!
得欢当作乐,斗酒聚比邻。
盛年不重来,一日难再晨,
及时当勉励,岁月不待人。

觉得此诗对人与人之间的关系形容得相当贴切。

言归正传，今天要说的是桃花。 刚才我弟弟买了一盆桃花回家，笑说是希望给家里的男丁带来一点桃花运。 我们开玩笑地说搞不好我老爸被桃花点中的话就糟，或是变成桃花劫的话就更不用说了，气氛十分搞笑。 ：）



说起桃花, 也总会想起射雕英雄传和神雕侠侣中的桃花岛。 总是觉得很怪，难道岛上的桃树都不结果的吗？ 为何总是能摆桃花阵？

偶尔也会想到西游记里王母娘娘的蟠桃宴，和孙悟空偷吃蟠桃。中国神话经常提到桃是一种可以延年益寿的水果，常被神仙食用。

当然，有时也会想到日本的桃太郎。

其实，桃是一种温带植物，需要一定的夏日光照但夜晚比较涼爽的气温，因此不能在本地生长。 相信家里这盆桃花在不久后也会枯萎吧？ 心中也觉得很可惜。

凋谢的花朵是否也会带走那桃花运或桃花劫呢？ 哈哈，那就不得而知了。：P



Notes:

The peach (Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China, and was probably introduced to the West via the Silk Road through Persia (Iran).

The juicy peach fruit plays a significant role in traditional Chinese belief, and is often seen as something consumed by immortals, and thus it also symbolises longevity.

The peach blossom, on the other hand, symbolises romance, and is believed to be able to bring luck to those seeking love.

Potted peach trees were especially popular during the Lunar New Year, as they are also believed to be able to ward off evil, and bring luck to the owner.

Unfortunately, peach trees need a temperate climate to survive, and thus most of them hardly survive more than a few months when they are brought to Singapore.

Afternote:

Interestingly, my first blog entry after I revamped my blog design is something terrestrial, despite the ocean-themed design I'm using this time round. Haha :P