Spring Rain
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《春雨》

English Translation

I am lying in a white-lined coat while the spring approaches,

But am thinking only of the White Gate City where I cannot be.

...There are two red chambers fronting the cold, hidden by the rain,

And a lantern on a pearl screen swaying my lone heart homeward.

...The long road ahead will be full of new hardship,

With, late in the nights, brief intervals of dream.

Oh, to send you this message, this pair of jade earrings! --

I watch a lonely wildgoose in three thousand miles of cloud.

Seven-character-regular-verse

This poem by Li Shangyin expresses parting sorrow against the backdrop of spring rain. Through misty spring rain imagery - the solitary lamp in deep night, dreams of distant journeys - the poet conveys longing and helplessness for a beloved. This lyrical technique gives the poem strong emotional power, characteristic of Li Shangyin's subtle, restrained style. The symbolic imagery resonates deeply, revealing the poet's inner solitude and melancholy.

中文原文( Chinese )

怅卧新春白袷衣，白门寥落意多违。

红楼隔雨相望冷，珠箔飘灯独自归。

远路应悲春晼晚，残宵犹得梦依稀。

玉珰缄札何由达，万里云罗一雁飞。

Pre： Hard to see you

Next：To One Unnamed IV

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.

Spring Rain - Poetry of Li Shangyin

Spring Rain
- Poetry of Li Shangyin