Moon and Frost
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《霜月》

English Translation

No cicadas will trill when wild geese southwars fly;

Viewed from lofty tower, water blends with the sky.

The Moon and Frost Goddesses are cold-proof on high;

Before the crystal palace in beauty they vie.

This poem depicts a late autumn night scene observed from a waterside tower, where frost and moonlight create sublime beauty. Through this crystalline nocturnal imagery interwoven with mythological allusions, the poet expresses transcendental yearning for luminous purity while conveying detachment from worldly concerns.

中文原文( Chinese )

初闻征雁已无蝉，百尺楼台水接天。

青女素娥俱耐冷，月中霜里斗婵娟。

Pre： Hearing a Startled Bird During Stayover at Chin-Ch'ang Pavilion

Next：In the Camp of the Sketching Brush

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.

Moon and Frost - Poetry of Li Shangyin

Moon and Frost
- Poetry of Li Shangyin