Lyrics to the Melody of Waves Dredging Sand
- Poetry of Ouyang Xiu

《浪淘沙·把酒祝东风》
Lyrics to the Melody of Waves Dredging Sand by Ouyang Xiu
中文原文( Chinese )

把酒祝东风，且共从容。

垂杨紫陌洛城东。

总是当时携手处，游遍芳丛。

聚散苦匆匆，此恨无穷。

今年花胜去年红。

可惜明年花更好，知与谁同？

English Translation

I raise my wine in honour of easterlies, why don't you linger in my company?

Under drooping willows and along paths lined with violets east of Luoyang,

We used to hold hands everywhere,

As we strolled past all flower thickets and tussocks.

People gather and scatter, reunions are always bitterly brief, forever leaving regrets.

This year's blossoms surpass last year's in brightness,

Though next year's may be even brighter still,

Who knows whose company I'd be in?

By  Ouyang Xiu

- Last updated: 2024-06-16 10:14:59
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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.

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