The orchid
- Poetry of Chen Zi'ang

《感遇诗三十八首 · 其二》

English Translation

In late spring grows the orchid good,

How luxuriant are its leaves green!

Alone it adorns empty wood

With red blooms and violet stems lean.

Slowly, slowly shortens the day;

Rippling, rippling blows autumn breeze.

By the year's end it fades away.

What has become of it fragrance, please?

This is the second poem written by Chen Zi'ang, with the main theme of lamenting the life and times and politics. The poem compares itself with the orchid grass Du Ruo, and sends out the personal feeling of the life and times.

中文原文( Chinese )

兰若生春夏，芊蔚何青青！

幽独空林色，朱蕤冒紫茎。

迟迟白日晚，嫋嫋秋风生。

岁华尽摇落，芳意竟何成？

Pre： On a Gate-tower at Yuzhou

Next：No Data

Why Chinese poems is so special?: The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.

How to read a Chinese poem?: Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

The orchid - Poetry of Chen Zi'ang

The orchid
- Poetry of Chen Zi'ang