A Date
- Poetry of Li Yi

《写情》
A Date by Li Yi
English Translation

On bamboo mat I long for you without a break,

Coming from afar, you don't keep the date you make.

From now on, I won't care for any lovely night;

In vain on the west tower may the moon shine bright.

This poem depicts the pain of heartbreak through a seven-character quatrain. The poet expresses emotions stemming from disappointment, helplessness, and even despair. The poem employs the backdrop of beautiful scenery, virtual techniques, and subtle psychological portrayal, creating layers of meaning and profound imagery in expressing sorrow.

中文原文( Chinese )

水纹珍簟思悠悠，千里佳期一夕休。

从此无心爱良夜，任他明月下西楼。

- Last updated: 2025-10-14 19:29:52
· Pre： Song of River Bian
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.

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