Song of Green Water
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《渌水曲》
English Translation
O'er water green the autumn moonshine s bright,
On Southern Lake they gather lilies white.
The lotus-blooms so lovely as to speak,
Outshine the bashful oars women's fair cheek.
This poem depicts a bright and vibrant scene of gathering duckweed in autumn, showcasing the poet's love for natural beauty and his reflections on the fluctuations of life. With a fresh and unconventional touch, Li Bai portrays the autumn lakescape with the radiance of spring, captivating the reader. This lively and poetic imagery is a testament to the unique charm of Li Bai's poetry.
中文原文( Chinese )
渌水明秋月，南湖采白蘋。
荷花娇欲语，愁杀荡舟人。
- 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.