English Rendering
I want to find a balcony with a railing for my wine jar.
On the river, clouds of mist rise up as day grows dark.
I'm waiting for a sweet east wind to blow the rain away
And waiting for the sun to rise to land on this green shore.
Spring Outing, Coinciding with Rain
- Poetry of Zhang Xu
《春游值雨》
Original Text (中文原文)
欲寻轩槛列清尊，江上烟云向晚昏。
须倩东风吹散雨，明朝却待入华园。
Analysis & Context
As a serious drinker, Zhang Xu knows his priorities. I'm doubtful that the wine will last till dawn. What I like most about his poetry is its, his, individual voice. He skips all of the common words and phrases that bang around inside so many poems of his time. He only uses them to make fun of them, I think.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
- Clear Stream, Afloat in a Boat
- Spring Outing, Coinciding with Rain
- Willows
- Spring Grasses
- Mountain Walk, Asking Guest to Stay
- Peach-blossom River
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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