Draw back the curtain in the morning
- Poetry of Ouyang Xiu

《诉衷情》

- Last updated: 2024-03-24 17:02:26

中文原文

清晨帘幕卷轻霜。

呵手试梅妆。

都缘自有离恨，故画作远山长。

思往事，惜流芳。

易成伤。

拟歌先敛，欲笑还颦，最断人肠。

English Translation

Draw back the curtain in the morning,

frost here,you breathe to warm you hand

and start making up.

Because of the person you yearn so badly,

you paint a cresent-shaped brows.

Think back the past,what a beautiful day!

Your heart breaks,sing before hide the smiles.

He's come here,smile you want but don't know

how to show up.

Maybe it's the saddest thing,but also the happiest.

By Ou Yangxiu

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