To Buddhist Priest Yuan From Chang'an
- Poetry of Meng Haoran

《秦中感秋寄远上人 / 秦中寄远上人》

- Last updated: 2024-04-27 16:27:31

中文原文

Simplified Chinese Version

一丘常欲卧，三径苦无资。

北土非吾愿，东林怀我师。

黄金然桂尽，壮志逐年衰。

日夕凉风至，闻蝉但益悲。

Traditional Chinese Version

一丘嘗欲臥，三徑苦無資。

北土非吾願，東林懷我師。

黃金燃桂盡，壯志逐年衰。

日夕涼風至，聞蟬但益悲。

English Translation

How gladly I would seek a mountain

If I had enough means to live as a recluse!

For I turn at last from serving the State

To the Eastern Woods Temple and to you, my master.

...Like ashes of gold in a cinnamon-flame,

My youthful desires have been burnt with the years-

And tonight in the chilling sunset-wind

A cicada, singing, weighs on my heart.

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