Silk-Washing Stream
- Poetry of Su Shi

《浣溪沙·风压轻云贴水飞》

中文原文

风压轻云贴水飞，乍晴池馆燕争泥。

沈郎多病不胜衣。

沙上不闻鸿雁信，竹间时听鹧鸪啼。

此情惟有落花知！

English Translation

Pressed by the breeze,over water the light clouds fly;

In pecking clods by poolside tower swallows vie.

I feel too weak to wear my gown,ill for so long.

I have not heard the message-bearing wild goose song;

Partridges among bamboos seem to call me home;

Only fallen blooms know the heart of those who roam.

This poet describes a frangvil scene and his homesickness.

- Last updated: 2023-12-18 09:11:17

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