Snow in Spring
- Poetry of Han Yu
《春雪》
English Translation
The new year's come, but still the plants don't grow,
First in March I'm startled by grass shoots.
The white snow thinks the colours of spring are late,
So through the pavilion and trees it flies like blossom.
This poem was composed during the Tang Dynasty and is a lyrical piece that uses scenery to express emotion. Through the depiction of a snowy scene in early spring, the poet conveys his longing for and delight in the arrival of spring. The poem employs personification, imbuing the snow with life and a sense of romanticism, reflecting the poet's optimistic and open-hearted spirit.
中文原文( Chinese )
新年都未有芳华，二月初惊见草芽。
白雪却嫌春色晚，故穿庭树作飞花。
- 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.