Spring Thoughts II
- Poetry of Lu Guimeng
South of the River, wine is brewed on Pure Bright Day,
Where high green streamers in the wind softly sway.
A carefree young man from who knows where lies in rest,
His face covered with petals, still drunk in his nest.
This poem was composed during the late Tang Dynasty, a period when the Jiangnan region was flourishing, especially in spring. The Qingming Festival was marked by the brewing of new wine, and tavern flags fluttered everywhere in the wind. Through his characteristically leisurely perspective, the poet captures a scene of carefree youth indulging in blossoms and wine. As part of a series called "Spring Thoughts," this piece focuses on depicting local customs and human sentiments, reflecting the poet’s dual lament for the fleetingness of youth and the beauty of spring.
江南酒熟清明天，高高绿旆当风悬。
谁家无事少年子，满面落花犹醉眠。
- 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.