Love letter
- Poetry of Yu Xuanji

《书情寄李子安》

- Last updated: 2024-05-16 09:34:31

中文原文

饮冰食檗志无功，晋水壶关在梦中。

秦镜欲分愁堕鹊，舜琴将弄怨飞鸿。

井边桐叶鸣秋雨，窗下银灯暗晓风。

书信茫茫何处问，持竿尽日碧江空。

English Translation

Eat ice and coptis,trying to forget you.

but the ferry we parted i still revisit in my dream.

Leave me here,do you know how lonely i am?

like a wild butterfly,i halt at the blue daisy's dew.

Cricket weeps near the well,i fly in the autumn rain.

wind kisses the window,i kindle the silver candle.

Don't know if you can get my love letter in next spring,

i just catch the oar to wait for you like a spoony girl

By Yu Xuanji

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