A New Poem to Echo Shaoyou’s Ci Rhymes
- Poetry of Su Shi

《千秋岁·次韵少游》

English Translation

（to the tune ‘Live a Thousand Years’）

To the end of the world I’m driven;

Across this strait is Hainan Island.

Tears, the last gift of loyalty, are drained,

With a dim hope of being resummoned.

This gentleman is still in reasonable shape.

Spotless is his gold belt and jade pendant.

With Chang’an’s vibes this sunset rhymes,

A thousand miles towards the mainland.

The Emperor’s order can be a challenge,

But I warrant his courtier’s value retained.

To quiet my voice, the distance functions.

My ‘Sins’ are contained, so no concern.

Maybe no luck to change an old-school nut,

Even if I could be so blessed and pardoned.

Better go floating on the sea, like Confucius.

I’m done with ambition and done with illusion.

(En. trans. by Julia Min)

中文原文( Chinese )

岛外天边，未老身先退。

珠泪溅，丹衷碎。

身摇苍玉佩，色重黄金带。

一万里，斜阳正与长安对。

道远谁云会，罪大天能盖。

君命重，臣节在。

新恩犹可觊，旧学终难改。

吾已矣，乘桴且凭浮于海。

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.