To a Fair Lady Encountered on the Road
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
I trample fallen flowers on a steed so proud,
And flick my whip at a cab of five-colored cloud.
The jeweled curtain drawn reveals a lady fair.
Smiling,she points to a mansion red,"My house is there."
Composed during Li Bai's wandering years, this poem vividly captures a quintessential romantic moment in Tang capital life. It portrays neither palace-bound women nor rustic maidens, but a bold yet elegant encounter between aristocratic youths on the streets of Chang'an or Luoyang, brimming with the confidence, openness, and youthful energy characteristic of the High Tang era. The "Five Mausoleums" refer to imperial tomb areas near Chang'an where wealthy young nobles resided, indulging in leisurely pleasures. With lively fluency, Li Bai depicts a romantic meeting that showcases the gallant demeanor and unrestrained love ethos of Tang youth. Through imagery of steeds, beauties, and vermilion towers, the poem creates a dynamic, theatrical scene immersing readers in youthful passion.
骏马骄行踏落花，垂鞭直拂五云车。
美人一笑褰珠箔，遥指红楼是妾家。
- 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.