Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again
- Poetry of Modern Chinese poetry

《再别康桥》

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 20:49:36

Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again by Modern Chinese poetry
中文原文

轻轻的我走了，

正如我轻轻的来；

我轻轻的招手，

作别西天的云彩。


那河畔的金柳，

是夕阳中的新娘；

波光里的艳影，

在我的心头荡漾。


软泥上的青荇，

油油的在水底招摇；

在康河的柔波里，

我甘心做一条水草！


那榆荫下的一潭，

不是清泉，是天上虹；

揉碎在浮藻间，

沉淀着彩虹似的梦。


寻梦？撑一支长篙，

向青草更青处漫溯；

满载一船星辉，

在星辉斑斓里放歌。


但我不能放歌，

悄悄是别离的笙箫；

夏虫也为我沉默，

沉默是今晚的康桥！


悄悄的我走了，

正如我悄悄的来；

我挥一挥衣袖，

不带走一片云彩。

English Translation

Quietly I take my leave,

as quietly as I came;

quietly I wave good-bye

to the sky's dying flame.


The riverside's willows

like lithe, sunlit brides

reflected in the waves

move my heart's tides.


Weeds moored in dark sludge

sway here, free of need,

in the Cam's gentle wake ...

O, to be a waterweed!


Beneath shady elms

a nebulous rainbow

crumples and reforms

in the soft ebb and flow.


Seek a dream? Pole upstream

to where grass is greener;

rig the boat with starlight;

sing aloud of love's splendor!


But how can I sing

when my song is farewell?

Even the crickets are silent.

And who should I tell?


So quietly I take my leave,

as quietly as I came;

gently I flick my sleeves ...

not a wisp will remain.


(6 November 1928)

Xu Zhimo's most famous poem is this one about leaving Cambridge. English titles for the poem include "On Leaving Cambridge," "Second Farewell to Cambridge," "Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again,"  and "Taking Leave of Cambridge Again."

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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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