Spring in Painted Hall
- Poetry of Zhang Xian

《画堂春·外湖莲子长参差》

中文原文( Chinese )

外湖莲子长参差，霁山青处鸥飞。

水天溶漾画桡迟，人影鉴中移。

桃叶浅声双唱，杏红深色轻衣。

小荷障面避斜晖，分得翠阴归。

English Translation

The lotus blooms in outer lake grow high and low;

After the rain over green hills fly the gulls white.

The painted boats on rippling water slowly go;

Our shadows move on mirror bright.

Two maidens sing the song of peach leaf in voices low,

Clad in light clothes apricot-red.

They come back with green shadow fed.

The poet describes the lake and two maidens gohering lotus seeds.

- Last updated: 2024-04-02 14:38:42

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