English Rendering
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."
To a Fair Lady Encountered on the Road
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《陌上赠美人》
Original Text (中文原文)
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。
Analysis & Context
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.
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.
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