Palace Song
- Poetry of Li Shangyin
Your favor, like eastward-flowing water, has no stay;
Gaining it, I dread its loss; losing it, I pine away.
Before the cup, oh, do not play the tune “Flowers Fall” —
The cold wind waits already by the western palace wall.
This poem by Li Shangyin belongs to the genre of palace laments, yet its significance extends far beyond typical boudoir grievances. It is deeply rooted in the poet’s keen observation of the political environment in the late Tang dynasty and his own career experiences. Having spent many years moving between various military governors’ offices and navigating the circles of the powerful, Li Shangyin had an intimate and sober understanding of the dependent relationships that defined officialdom—relationships centered on the unpredictable favor of the ruler or superior. Here, "the ruler’s favor" can refer literally to the emperor’s affection for his consorts, or metaphorically to the patronage and advancement bestowed by those in power upon their subordinates.
永寿兵来夜不扃，金莲无复印中庭。
梁台歌管三更罢，犹自风摇九子铃。
- 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.