Mountain's End
- Poetry of Liu Guo
《山末》
English Translation
At mountain's edge, sparse reds streak the last glow,
Where evening mists entwine, cottages show.
I shift my boat, enticed by sweeter air—
Trifoliate oranges bloom, charming shallow shoal.
Composed by Liu Guo, a renowned Southern Song lyric poet known for blending boldness with delicacy, this five-character quatrain captures a twilight scene at mountain's edge. Likely written during travels, the poem depicts the poet boating through wilderness to discover a harmonious tableau of sunset clouds, mist-veiled dwellings, and medicinal blossoms. Though brief, the work embodies Liu's serene communion with nature and his gift for finding wonder in subtle landscapes.
中文原文( Chinese )
山末疏红尾尾霞，晚烟丛薄是人家。
移船更喜吹香好，枸橘药开媚浅沙。
Pre： Tipsy Verse
- 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.