Sheng Sheng Man [*O search, I search, and seek, I seek]
- Poetry of Li Qingzhao

《声声慢·寻寻觅觅》

- Last updated: 2023-12-21 19:55:15

中文原文

寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚。

乍暖还寒时候，最难将息。

三杯两盏淡酒，怎敌他、晚来风急！

雁过也，正伤心，却是旧时相识。

满地黄花堆积，憔悴损，如今有谁堪摘？

守着窗儿，独自怎生得黑！

梧桐更兼细雨，到黄昏、点点滴滴。

这次第，怎一个愁字了得！

English Translation

O search, I search and seek, I seek;

Yet cold, so cold, alone, all lonely;

O sad, I’m sad and down, I’m down--- O bleak, so bleak!

At this a time when the clime, oft sudden, from warm turns chilly,

‘Tis hardest to tend to my poor physique.

How could a three-or-twosome bowls or cups of wine

Ever withstand the gusty winds that, by evening, upon me wreak?

Migrating geese fly past,

Aching, breaking my heart;

Sweet old friends of mine they were, they now, just squeak.

On the ground, yellow chrysanthemum petals pile thick,

All weary, worn and waned;

By now, O what of flowers are left for me to pick?

Watching by the window, alone---

O how I wish the hour of darkness: come soon, come quick!

The phoenix tree, drenched now in fine mizzling drizzles,

'Tis evening, in tears, a-dripping:

A time, O such as this,

How shall the one word ‘sorrow’ suffice, to bare a heart so sick?

This famous lyric depicts the loneliness of the poetess after the death of her husband.

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.

List of Chinese poets