Departure from Changsha
- Poetry of Du Fu

《发潭州》
Departure from Changsha by Du Fu
English Translation

Drunken at night in Southern town,

I sail on vernal stream at dawn.

Fallen petals bid me adieu,

Swallows’ songs retain me anew.

A talent exiled long ago,

A good hand banished in woe.

What good to win a wide-spread fame?

Looking back, nothing’s left to blame.

The poem is a masterpiece of Du Fu’s later years, with its expressive techniques, such as using objects to convey meaning, or using allusions to express emotions, or expressing his feelings directly.

中文原文( Chinese )

夜醉长沙酒，晓行湘水春。

岸花飞送客，樯燕语留人。

贾傅才未有，褚公书绝伦。

名高前后事，回首一伤神。

- Last updated: 2024-07-26 11:46:40
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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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