Last year i sent you off in Yuhang
- Poetry of Su Shi

《少年游》

- Last updated: 2024-03-23 17:16:53

中文原文

去年相送，馀杭门外，飞雪似杨花。

今年春尽，杨花似雪，犹不见还家。

对酒卷帘邀明月，风露透窗纱。

恰似姮娥怜双燕，分明照、画梁斜。

English Translation

Last year i sent you off in Yuhang,

snow drifted like the poplar flowers.

Now the spring is gonna end,

the poplar flowers drift like snow,

but you haven't returned like you promised.

Drinking in the tavern and ask moon to join

this yearning night.Wind breezes so cold.

We're like two parting swallows,do you watch

the moon in the courtyard like i do?

By Su Shi

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