A Song of Changgan I
- Poetry of Cui Hao
"Tell me, where do you live? --
Near here, by the fishing-pool?
Let's hold our boats together, let's see
If we belong in the same town."
Folk-song-styled-verse
This poem captures a brief yet vivid conversation between a young boat girl from the water tThis poem captures a brief yet vivid conversation between a young boat girl from the water towns of Jiangnan and a passing stranger. Through simple and natural dialogue set against the backdrop of an unexpected meeting on the river, the poem reveals the girl’s sincerity and warmth, painting a subtle yet charming picture of life in the southern water villages. Despite its brevity, the poem conveys genuine emotions and carries a strong sense of everyday life, vividly reflecting the simplicity and natural charm of the local people.
君家何处住，妾住在横塘。
停船暂借问，或恐是同乡。
- 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.
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