A Frivolous Outing on Ba River
- Poetry of Meng Jiao

《灞上轻薄行》

English Translation

In Chang'an, a leisurely stroll was impossible.

And then, it was getting on towards evening.

We happened to meet there along the river.

And it's not as if we were related.

I sighed at my own clumsiness and then,

Suddenly, I was caught up in your playful spirit.

I'm usually afraid to lose myself like that,

Afraid my life will blow away like dust.

There I was, grey-haired, and actually

Scampering, not even stopping to rest.

Everything about this poem places it in Meng Jiao's early forties as he struggles to pass the imperial exams.

中文原文( Chinese )

长安无缓步，况值天景暮。

相逢灞浐间，亲戚不相顾。

自叹方拙身，忽随轻薄伦。

常恐失所避，化为车辙尘。

此中生白发，疾走亦未歇。

- Last updated: 2024-11-01 11:56:47

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