Song of the Roosting Crows I
- Poetry of Liu Fangping
With moth-eyebrows and fine face, kingdom-toppling in grace,
Rings tinkling, pendants swaying, newly met face to face.
The Milky Way slants o'er the white jade hall,
The lotus-patterned screen dims the lamplight's fall.
"Song of the Roosting Crows" is a set of Yuefu-style poems by the Tang Dynasty poet Liu Fangping, consisting of two pieces that belong to the tradition of palace laments and romantic lyrics. The first poem portrays a woman’s appearance, demeanor, and opulent surroundings, capturing the charm and emotions of a secluded palace dweller. Such poetry often follows the Han and Wei Yuefu legacy of "song lyrics," depicting feminine beauty and sorrow—delicately illustrating the figure while subtly conveying a sense of personal destiny. Although Liu Fangping achieved little success in his official career, he excelled in short verses on romantic and palace themes. His "Song of the Roosting Crows" continues this style: using lush language to express nuanced emotions, it blends rich color with deep feeling, fully showcasing his refined artistry within the late Tang poetic scene.
蛾眉曼脸倾城国，鸣环动佩新相识。
银汉斜临白玉堂，芙蓉行障掩灯光。
- 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.