English Rendering
She is slim and supple and not yet fourteen,
The young spring-tip of a cardamon-spray.
On the Yangzhou Road for three miles in the breeze
Every pearl-screen is open. But there's no one like her.
Parting I
- Poetry of Du Mu
《赠别·其一》
Original Text (中文原文)
娉娉袅袅十三余，豆蔻梢头二月初。
春风十里扬州路，卷上珠帘总不如。
Analysis & Context
Seven-character-quatrain
This poem was written around 840 AD during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, Du Mu was serving as an aide in Yangzhou, where he met and formed a close bond with a local songstress. As they prepared to part ways, Du Mu composed this poem to express his admiration and reluctance to say goodbye. This is the first of two poems, focusing on praise, while the second emphasizes the sorrow of parting.
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.
- Lament for Spring II
- At Chan-zhì Temple, Yangzhou
- The Spring Palace II
- The Spring Palace I
- Temple of the Heroine
- On the Black River Pavilion
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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