I Wade the Stream
- Poetry of Anonymous

《涉江采芙蓉》

中文原文

涉江采芙蓉，兰泽多芳草。

采之欲遗谁？所思在远道。

还顾望旧乡，长路漫浩浩。

同心而离居，忧伤以终老。

English Translation

I wade the stream to pluck lotus flowers;

The orchid marsh abounds in scented grass.

To whom shall I present the grass and flowers?

Close in heart but far apart is my lass.

When I look back upon my homeward way,

The way that lies ahead is long and cold.

We're heart to heart but distance holds its sway;

Grief is mine until my heart grows old.

Anonymous

- Last updated: 2024-08-11 11:29:22

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