Wuling Chun (Spring in Wuling) -- Late Spring
- Poetry of Li Qingzhao

《武陵春·春晚》

- Last updated: 2024-03-20 23:41:57

中文原文

风住尘香花已尽，日晚倦梳头。

物是人非事事休，欲语泪先流。

闻说双溪春尚好，也拟泛轻舟。

只恐双溪舴艋舟，载不动许多愁。

English Translation

The wind has waned, the soil scented, the season of blossoms spent;

So late in the morn, O to comb my hair, I loathe.

Your things remain, but you live no more, all matters that matter reposed;

O ere I speak, my tears I cannot withhold.

I’ve heard it said: at Shuangxi’s Twinbrook, springtime is still sublime;

To be there I wish, in a light boat adrift, afloat.

And yet I fear it would be found the grasshopper Twinbrook rowboat

Far too light to carry --- a load of so much sorrow.

By Li Qingzhao

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