Recalling the Old Days at Mianchi in the Same Rhymes as Ziyou's Poem
- Poetry of Su Shi

《和子由渑池怀旧》

中文原文

人生到处知何似？应似飞鸿踏雪泥。

泥上偶然留指爪，鸿飞那复计东西！

老僧已死成新塔，坏壁无由见旧题。

往日崎岖还记否？路长人困蹇驴嘶。

English Translation

What do you think is human life like here or there?

It seems like a swan's traces on mud or on snow.

See the claw and nail prints by chance mud and snow bear.

Will the flying swan care what it has left below?

The old monk, dead, has left but a dagoba new; The verse we wrote was gone with the wall in decay.

What I remember of the journey made with you Is a weary long way and the lame donkey's bray.

The poet and his brother had stayed in the temple at Mianchi during a previous journey and written poems on a wall.

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 17:38:34

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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