Drinking to the Moon on the River
- Poetry of Wen Tianxiang

《酹江月·和友驿中言别》

- Last updated: 2024-04-11 16:30:44

中文原文

乾坤能大，算蛟龙元不是池中物。风雨牢愁无著处，那更寒蛩四壁。横槊题诗，登楼作赋，万事空中雪。江流如此，方来还有英杰。

堪笑一叶漂零，重来淮水，正凉风新发。镜里朱颜都变尽，只有丹心难灭。去去龙沙，江山回首，一线青如发。故人应念，杜鹃枝上残月。

English Translation

Immense is the universe.

Could dragons be imprisoned in pools so small?

How can we stay in wind and rain,

In grief and pain?

How can we bear

Cold crickets' chirp at the foot of the wall?

Where is the hero, spear in hand, crooning his verse?

And where's the talents' owner? All

Has vanished like snow in the air.

Seeing the river

Running forever,

We need not fear

No hero would appear.

Alas! Like wafting leaves, you and I,

We come again to River Huai,

When the cold breeze begins to blow.

In the mirror we find a face aged in woe,

But still unchanged is our loyal heart.

Now for the northern desert we start;

Turning our head,

We see a hairlike stretch of land outspread.

If my old friend should think of me.

Listen to the wailing cuckoo on the moonlit tree!

By Wen Tianxiang

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