Seeing Yan Bojun Off to Shan County
- Poetry of Li Ye

《送阎二十六赴剡县》

中文原文( Chinese )

流水阊门外，孤舟日复西。

离情遍芳草，无处不萋萋。

妾梦经吴苑，君行到剡溪。

归来重相访，莫学阮郎迷。

English Translation

This river runs beyond the Gates of Heaven.

Your lone boat again goes to the West.

Our feelings of parting are filled with virtue.

There is nowhere that you cannot flourish.

I dreamed that in the Gardens of Wu

You travelled until you came to Shan Creek.

When you return, we will visit again.

Don't get lost in Heaven like Ruan Zhao.

This is supposed to be a poem that shows Li Ye is sleeping with Yan Bojun.

- Last updated: 2024-11-07 08:47:19

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