An Autumn Night Message to Qiu
- Poetry of Wei Yingwu
《秋夜寄邱员外》
English Translation
As I walk in the cool of the autumn night,
Thinking of you, singing my poem,
I hear a mountain pine-cone fall...
You also seem to be awake.
Composed during Wei Yingwu's official service on an autumn evening, this poem reflects his constant longing for recluse-friend Qiu Dan amidst bureaucratic life. The work emerges from a solitary nighttime stroll where autumn's chill and stillness inspired tender remembrance. Without ornate diction, it connects their friendship across distance through shared nocturnal imagery. Deeply moved upon receiving it, Qiu responded with a matching verse—testament to their profound bond.
中文原文( Chinese )
怀君属秋夜，散步咏凉天。
空山松子落，幽人应未眠。
- 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.
Famous Chinese Poems
- Seven Poems on Kaiyuan Era: Dancing Horses
- Midnight Song of the Four Seasons: Summer
- In Reply to Pimei’s Poem Written During Illness
- Ten Odes on Tea Utensils: Tea Vale White Lotus
- Spring Thoughts II
- The Arcane Celadon of Yue Kiln
- Lodging by Riverside Tower
- Along the River for Flowers Alone I
- The Cottage by the Stream
- The Lotus-Gathering Song
You May Also Like