Song of River Bian
- Poetry of Li Yi

《汴河曲》
Song of River Bian by Li Yi
English Translation

The River Bian flows eastward, overwhelmed with spring;

To dust have gone ruined palaces and their king.

Don't gaze afar from the long bank of willow trees!

The willow down will grieve your heart when blows the breeze.

Li Yi composed this poem during the mid-Tang Dynasty while serving as a Registrar in Zheng County. Witnessing societal corruption and the suffering of the people, he expressed his sentiments through the scenery of the Bian River. The poem laments the rise and fall of the Sui Dynasty, using historical events as an allegory to reflect on the current political situation. The Bian River and its surrounding landscapes, including the remnants of the Sui dike and palaces, serve as witnesses to history’s vicissitudes, inspiring the poet's profound reflections.

中文原文( Chinese )

汴水东流无限春，隋家宫阙已成尘。

行人莫上长堤望，风起杨花愁杀人。

- Last updated: 2025-10-14 19:28:19
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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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