I Cried Soundlessly
- Poetry of Nalan Xingde

《南乡子》

- Last updated: 2024-03-24 15:39:16

中文原文

泪咽却无声。

只向从前悔薄情，凭仗丹青重省识，盈盈，一片伤心画不成。

别语忒分明，午夜鹣鹣梦早醒。

卿自早醒侬自梦，更更，泣尽风檐夜雨铃。

English Translation

I cried soundlessly,

just regretted that i hadn't spoil you before you died.

With a painting,i found you revive in my heart.

Tried to tell you my infatuation,

but i didn't know how to paint our dreamlike love.

You whispered to me clearly,

i woke up and walked in the courtyard last spring.

Maybe you got into the heaven but i still dreamed,

hoped to tell you my infatuation,

but only wind bells wept with me in the night rain.

By Nalan Xingde

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