A Poem to My Brother Ziyou,Composed on Horseback after Parting with Him at the Western Gate of the Capital on the 19th Day of the 11th Lunar Month
- Poetry of Su Shi

《辛丑十一月十九日，既与子由别于郑州西门之外，马上赋诗一篇寄之》
A Poem to My Brother Ziyou,Composed on Horseback after Parting with Him at the Western Gate of the Capital on the 19th Day of the 11th Lunar Month by Su Shi
English Translation

Why do I look so drunken without drinking wine?

My heart is going back with your home-going steed.

Your thoughts turn to our parents and ancestral shrine.

How can I be consoled with the lonely life I' ll lead?

Ascending a height,I look back and feel so sad To see your black cap now appear, now disappear.

It is now biting cold and you are thinly clad, Riding a lean nag' neath the waning moon so drear.

Wayfarers sing abroad, people are glad at home, My houseboy wonders why alone I'm desolate.

I know people may meet or part, settle down or roam, But I dread to think how quickly years evaporate.

Facing a cold lamp,I relive the bygone days.

When may we listen to bleak wind on rainy night?

You know what I mean and must bear in mind always: Don't outstay your office of which you should make light.

Having seen the poet on his way to Fengxiang, where he was to be assistant magistrate, his brother started back.

中文原文( Chinese )

不饮胡为醉兀兀？此心已逐归鞍发。

归人犹自念庭闹，今我何以慰寂寞？

登高回首坡垅隔，惟见乌帽出复没。

苦寒念尔衣裘薄，独骑瘦马踏残月。

路人行歌居人乐，童仆怪我苦凄侧。

亦知人生要有别，但恐岁月去飘忽。

寒灯相对记畴昔，夜雨何时听萧瑟？

君知此意不可忘，慎勿苦爱高官职！

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 17:38:13
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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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