In the Mountains on a Summer Day
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《夏日山中》

Far from the Imperial Court, Li Bai finds himself in the forest’s green trees on a summer’s day. He is hot and perspiring. He strips to the waist, then removes his his headscarf.

In the Mountains on a Summer Day by Li Bai (Li Po)

English Translation

Gently I stir a white feather fan,

With open shirt sitting in a green wood.

I take off my cap and hang it on a jutting stone;

A wind from the pine-trees trickles on my bare head.

中文原文( Chinese )

懒摇白羽扇，裸袒青林中。

脱巾挂石壁，露顶洒松风。

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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In the Mountains on a Summer Day - Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

In the Mountains on a Summer Day
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)