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

《美人不是母胎生》

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

中文原文

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

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