Both Sides of the Yellow River Recaptured By the Imperial Army
- Poetry of Du Fu

《闻官军收河南河北》

中文原文( Chinese )

剑外忽传收蓟北，初闻涕泪满衣裳。

却看妻子愁何在，漫卷诗书喜欲狂。

白日放歌须纵酒，青春作伴好还乡。

即从巴峡穿巫峡，便下襄阳向洛阳。

English Translation

News at this far western station! The north has been recaptured!

At first I cannot check the tears from pouring on my coat --

Where is my wife? Where are my sons?

Yet crazily sure of finding them, I pack my books and poems- -

And loud my song and deep my drink

On the green spring-day that starts me home,

Back from this mountain, past another mountain,

Up from the south, north again-to my own town!

Seven-character-regular-verse

- Last updated: 2024-04-25 21:39:53

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