A bright, clear sky on the fifth day of the fifth month;

willow catkins drift along the river as orioles sing at dawn.

Before the governor has even left his hall,

the sound of chanting from the river reaches him.

五月五日天晴明，杨花绕江啼晓莺。

使君未出郡斋外，江上早闻齐和声。

~ Zhang Jianfeng (张建封, 733–792), Tang dynasty governor and poet, from Song of the Dragon-Boat Race (《竞渡歌》)