Tune: "Song of Ziye"
- Poetry of Li Yu

《子夜歌·人生愁恨何能免》

- Last updated: 2024-04-16 18:36:46

中文原文

人生愁恨何能免？销魂独我情何限！

故国梦重归，觉来双泪垂。

高楼谁与上？长记秋晴望。

往事已成空，还如一梦中。

English Translation

How many one be spared the sorrow and regret of human life?

Why am I alone so overwhelmed, what end to my grief?

To my former kingdom I return in dreams again,

And awaken to find my tears already brimming.

With whom did I climb the high towers then?

How often I remember how we gazed into the clear autumn.

These things past are already drained and dead,

As though they were moments from within a single dream.

By Li Yu

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.

List of Chinese poets