The Stone-nose Town
- Poetry of Su Shi

《石鼻城》

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 17:38:52

中文原文

平时战国今无在，陌上征夫自不闲。

北客初来试新险，蜀人从此送残山。

独穿暗月朦胧里，愁渡奔河苍茫间。

渐入西南风景变：道旁修竹水潺潺。

English Translation

Where are the belligerent states of bygone days?

Wayfarers are trudging on their way without cheer.

New-come Northerners on the peril fix their gaze; The mountaineers part with their last steep mountain here.

Alone,I make my way dimly lit by moonlight; Saddened,I cross the river shrouded in the haze.

The Southwest land affords a quite different sight: The ripples whisper with roadside bamboo they graze.

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