Song of Divination-Written at Dinghui Abbey in Huangzhou
- Poetry of Su Shi

《卜算子·黄州定慧院寓居作》

- Last updated: 2023-12-25 10:19:21

中文原文

缺月挂疏桐，漏断人初静。

时见幽人独往来，缥缈孤鸿影。

惊起却回头，有恨无人省。

拣尽寒枝不肯栖，寂寞沙洲冷。

English Translation

From a sparse plane tree hangs the waning moon,

The waterclock is still and hushed is man.

Who sees a hermit pacing up and down alone?

Is it the shadow of a fugifive swan?

Startled,he turns his head

With a grief none behold.

Looking all over,he won't perch on branches dead

But on the lonely sandbank cold.

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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.

List of Chinese poets