Parting I
- Poetry of Du Mu

English Translation

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.

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.

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中文原文( Chinese )

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。

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.

• Waves Sifting Sand I
• Lament for Spring II
• At Chan-zhì Temple, Yangzhou
• Willow Branch Song
• Farewell to Zhu Da Leaving for the Capital​
• Deer Enclosure

• A Song of Changgan
• 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