The Song of a Southern Maid V
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《越女词 · 其五》
English Translation
The mirror Lake looks like the moon bright;
The maids on the Stream seem snow so fair.
Their new dress makes ripples in the lake bright;
Their dress and the ripples shed their light.
This poem was composed by Li Bai during his travels in the Wu-Yue region, where he was captivated by the enchanting scenery of the Jiangnan water towns and the graceful charm of the local women. With a light and elegant touch, the poet depicts this captivating beauty, blending the shimmering lake waters with the loveliness of the maidens to create a fresh and poetic imagery, expressing his deep admiration for the distinctive allure of the Jiangnan region.
中文原文( Chinese )
镜湖水如月，耶溪女似雪。
新妆荡新波，光景两奇绝。
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- 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.