Night at Dongkou Post Station
- Poetry of Qian Qi

《宿洞口驿》
Night at Dongkou Post Station by Qian Qi
English Translation

野竹通溪冷，秋蝉入户鸣。

乱来人不到，寒草上阶生。

This poem was composed in the late 8th century, during the lingering aftermath of the An Lushan Rebellion. As one of the "Ten Talents of the Dali Era," Qian Qi wrote this work while lodging at the desolate Kongkou Post Station during his travels. Through imagery of wild grasses and autumn cicadas in a deserted relay station, the poet conveys the depopulated landscapes and war-torn reality of the postwar era. The desolate setting mirrors his inner melancholy—economical in diction yet profound in meaning, leaving lasting reverberations.

中文原文( Chinese )

Wild bamboos pierce the frigid stream,

Autumn’s cicadas chant through beams.

Since chaos came, no travelers pass—

Only frost-bent grass climbs stone steps, massed.

· Pre： Farewell to Imperial Editor Xiahou Shen Returning East
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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