Who Can Explain Why We Love It (Picking Mulberries)
- Poetry of Ouyang Xiu

《采桑子·何人解赏西湖好》

- Last updated: 2024-03-24 17:06:12

中文原文

何人解赏西湖好，佳景无时。

飞盖相追。贪向花间醉玉卮。

谁知闲凭阑干处，芳草斜晖。

水远烟微。一点沧洲白鹭飞。

English Translation

Who can explain why we love it- West Lake is good.

The beautiful scene is without time,

Flying canopies chase each other,

Greedy to be among the flowers, drunk, with a jade cup.

Who can know I'm idle here, leaning on the rail.

Fragrant grass in slanting rays,

Fine mist on distant water,

One white egret flying from the Immortal Isle.

By Ouyang Xiu

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