Late Spring
- Poetry of Han Yu
《晚春》
English Translation
The plants all know that spring will soon return,
All kinds of red and purple contend in beauty.
The poplar blossom and elm seeds are not beautiful,
They can only fill the sky with flight like snow.
This poem was composed during the Tang Dynasty, in the late spring season. Witnessing the blooming flowers and the fluttering catkins, the poet was moved to reflect on the scene. Instead of lamenting the fleeting nature of spring or the withering of flowers, the poet uses a light and humorous tone to depict a vibrant late spring scene, creating a unique and delightful atmosphere.
中文原文( Chinese )
草树知春不久归，百般红紫斗芳菲。
杨花榆荚无才思，惟解漫天作雪飞。
- 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.