Magnolia Lyrics
- Poetry of Song Qi

《木兰花·东城渐觉风光好》

- Last updated: 2024-06-14 14:15:48

Magnolia Lyrics by Song Qi
中文原文

东城渐觉风光好,縠皱波纹迎客棹。

绿杨烟外晓寒轻,红杏枝头春意闹。

浮生长恨欢娱少,肯爱千金轻一笑。

为君持酒劝斜阳,且向花间留晚照。


English Translation

By the day East Town's scenery brightens,

Rippling waters like wrinkled silk travellers' boats invite.

Over green willows veiled by mist float morning clouds,

Apricot trees with red blossoms bustle with vernal vitality.


There is little joy but ever more regrets in life,

Who would in order to save a thousand pounds of gold forsake a lady's smile ?

Allow me to raise your chalice for you to hold on to sunset,

So that it could leave among flowers more twilight.

By Song Qi

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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