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?
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。
Su Shi was at the age of 37 and held the post as the Governor/Magistrate of Hangzhou in 1074. It was probably during a social function where he was approached by a singer or a lady to write a letter on her behalf. Such scenario was pretty common back then when many women were illiterate.
This short poem shall fall into the category of his sentimental poetry profile, which may seem pale in comparison with his highly recognised poems in the heroic and robust style. The romantic sentiments of the young wife is rather implied under the line through symbolism rather than on the line by using words like “I miss you. ” Yet the vocabulary used is simple everyday language.
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.
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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