Ballads of Four Seasons: Summer

Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po) 《子夜四时歌四首 夏歌》

English Rendering

On Mirror Lake outspread for miles and miles,

The lotus lilies in full blossom teem.

In fifth moon Xi Shi gathers them with smiles,

Watchers o'erwhelm the bank of Yuoye Stream.

Her boat turns back without waiting moonrise

To yoyal house amid amorous sighs.

Ballads of Four Seasons: Summer by Li Bai (Li Po) -
"Ballads of Four Seasons: Summer" by Li Bai (Li Po)

Original Text (中文原文)

鏡湖三百里, 菡萏發荷花。

五月西施采, 人看隘若耶。

回舟不待月, 歸去越王家。

Meaning & Analysis

Folk-song-styled-verse

Related Themes

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.

Reading Between the Lines

Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.

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