Meeting a Knight-Errant
- Poetry of Qian Qi

《逢侠者》

English Translation

A gallant man from northlands grim,

We meet where heroes’ lights burn dim.

Our hearts hold more than words can share—

The sun now dips. The road waits there.

This poem was composed by Qian Qi as a farewell piece upon encountering a wandering swordsman during his travels. Tang Dynasty literati often traveled extensively and formed diverse connections, with interactions between scholars and swordsmen being relatively common. This poem serves as a genuine portrayal of the poet's brief yet profound encounter with a chivalrous figure. Though devoid of grand scenes, its implications run deep—expressing both admiration for the swordsman and melancholy at parting.

中文原文( Chinese )

燕赵悲歌士，相逢剧孟家。

寸心言不尽，前路日将斜。

· Pre： Night at Dongkou Post Station

· Next：To the North-flying Wild Geese

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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Meeting a Knight-Errant - Poetry of Qian Qi

Meeting a Knight-Errant
- Poetry of Qian Qi