To the Cicada
- Poetry of Yu Shinan
Though rising high, you drink but dew;
Yet your voice flows from sparse plane trees.
Far and wide there's none but hears you;
You need no wings of autumn breeze.
This poem was composed in the early Tang Dynasty, representing the earliest documented cicada poem in Chinese literature and has been highly revered through the ages. As one of the Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Lingyan Pavilion, Yu Shinan was not only renowned for his calligraphy but also a statesman of refined literary cultivation. Likely written during his retirement or semi-retirement in later years, the poem employs the cicada as a vehicle for self-expression, conveying his moral integrity and incorruptible character despite holding high office. The work carries distinct allegorical significance while embodying the Confucian ideals of moral conviction and personal cultivation.
垂緌饮清露，流响出疏桐。
居高声自远，非是藉秋风。
- 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.