English Rendering
The street sees jolly gents arrayed with a twist.
Peony flowers style their grey hair with regrets.
They totter and stagger on their tipsy steps,
Bead curtains all semi-rolled to miles ahead.
A Feast on Peony Blooms at Lucky Temple
- Poetry of Su Shi
《吉祥寺赏牡丹》
Original Text (中文原文)
人老簪花不自羞，花应羞上老人头。
醉归扶路人应笑，十里珠帘半上钩。
Analysis & Context
Another good example of qijue (4-line poem with 7-character verse) which is very short but nothing short of ambition in exploring the theme to the maximum where the underlined message is far greater than four lines. A glimpse of a short moment on the street evoke in the readers’ mind a streaming of vivid imaginations about the festival – the romantic sentiments in Song’s lifestyle, the shared happiness of high-ranking officials with common people, the openness and freedom in the general governing attitude in Hangzhou. Su Shi was a celebrity but approachable, not hindered by pride and prejudice. He loved people, and was loved by people wherever he went. Today, he is probably most loved among contemporary readers as the best of what Great Song could offer.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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