Song of Water Clock: Snow-Cloaked Mume Blossoms
- Poetry of Yan Shu
Snow veils mume blooms, mist clings to willow boughs,
Spring’s first whispers stir the air.
Wild geese depart, orioles yet unseen—
Emerald pools ripple without a care.
We pluck flowers, keep guests drunk with wine,
Reliving last year’s tender cheer.
Golden cups brim, incense curls from jade,
While the crimson sun lingers, slow and dear.
Yan Shu, known for his gentle refinement, crafted lyrics distinguished by their elegant grace, particularly excelling in depicting spring scenes, banquet outings, and the sorrows of parting. This poem likely originated from a tranquil period in his official career, capturing the moment when early spring's first blossoms stir hidden emotions. Blending scene with sentiment and investing objects with feeling, it reveals—amid the gradually warming spring light—a lingering nostalgia for bygone beauty, its exquisite tenderness resonating long after reading.
雪藏梅，烟著柳。
依约上春时候。
初送雁，欲闻莺。
绿池波浪生。
探花开，留客醉。
忆得去年情味。
金盏酒，玉炉香。
任他红日长。
- 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.
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