Addressed Humorously to Du Fu
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
On top of Hill of Boiled Rice I met Du Fu,
Who in the noonday sun wore a hat of bamboo.
Pray,how could you have grown so thin since we did part?
Is it because the verse composing wrung your heart?
Composed during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, this poem captures a spontaneous encounter between Li Bai and Du Fu in Luoyang, where their mutual admiration blossomed into profound friendship. Both poets poured passion into their craft and sought solace in verse during political disillusionment. While Li Bai excelled in untrammeled romanticism, Du Fu became known for his poignant depth. This work, a lighthearted improvisation upon meeting Du Fu, blends humorous banter with genuine care, reflecting Li Bai's characteristic wit and heartfelt camaraderie.
饭颗山头逢杜甫，顶戴笠子日卓午。
借问别来太瘦生，总为从前作诗苦。
- 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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