A Brief But Happy Meeting With My Brother-in Law "Meeting By Accident, Only To Part"
- Poetry of Li Yi

《喜见外弟又言别》

- Last updated: 2024-05-04 11:43:35

中文原文

十年离乱后，长大一相逢。

问姓惊初见，称名忆旧容。

别来沧海事，语罢暮天钟。

明日巴陵道，秋山又几重。

English Translation

After these ten torn wearisome years

We have met again. We were both so changed

That hearing first your surname, I thought you a stranger --

Then hearing your given name, I remembered your young face....

All that has happened with the tides

We have told and told till the evening bell....

Tomorrow you journey to Youzhou,

Leaving autumn between us, peak after peak.

Five-character-regular-verse

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