You're an angel fallen from the heaven
- Poetry of Tsangyang Gyatso

《美人不是母胎生》

中文原文( Chinese )

美人不是母胎生，应是桃花树长成。

已恨桃花容易落，落花比汝尚多情。

English Translation

You're an angel fallen from the heaven,

your face looks like a cherry flower.

Cherry flower still will fall on my palm every May,

when would you return to here to listen my sweet whisper?

By Tsangyang Gyatso

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 16:02:46

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