English Rendering
The Clear Stream clears my heart;
Its water flows apart.
I ask the River New,"Why transparent are you?"
On mirror bright boats hie;
Between the screens birds fly.
At dusk the monkeys cry;
In vain the wayfarers sigh.
Song of the Clear Stream
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《清溪行》
Original Text (中文原文)
清溪清我心，水色异诸水。
借问新安江，见底何如此？
人行明镜中，鸟度屏风里。
向晚猩猩啼，空悲远游子。
Analysis & Context
This poem describes the scenery on the Clear Stream and the poet's feeling on leaving it.
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.
- The Song of a Southern Maid V
- Observing the Moon
- Su Wu
- Ancient Air: A Northern Belle
- Awaiting the Wine That Doesn’t Come
- Consoling Myself
- 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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