A Song of Changgan II
- Poetry of Cui Hao
《长干行二首之二》Folk-song-styled-verse
This poem describes a conversation between a young man and a young woman who meet by chance in a riverside town. Through their exchange, the poem conveys the warmth and familiarity that can arise from shared origins, while also subtly hinting at an unspoken sentiment. The emotions expressed are sincere, and the language is simple, reflecting both a deep nostalgia for home and a sense of helplessness in the face of life's drifting nature.
English Translation
"Yes, I live here, by the river;
I have sailed on it many and many a time.
Both of us born in Changgan, you and I!
Why haven't we always known each other?"
-- Poem translator: Kiang Kanghu
中文原文( Chinese )
家临九江水，来去九江侧。
同是长干人，生小不相识。
- 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.