My comments on "Song of the evening river" by Bai Ju Yi This little poem is like a Japanese haiku in the way that with a few words, a scene is suggested, and your imagination and memories can work. Sunsets, perfect weather, a dewy evening, new moon...very romantic and soothing images. There are many Chinese lyric poems about the rivers, some of them exquisitely beautiful. The rivers are sometimes presented in strongly symbolic ways, but here we are invited to look, relax, and enjoy the magic moment, right now. Merv Daw Another comment: Although this little poem contains just a few words, it can depict the scenery of the picture. I like the life in the picture. A limpid river in the evening and the new moon make it very beautiful and romantic. The description is very meticulous, the vocabulary is exquisite, and the arrangement is very tidy, with the sentence flowing freely. When I read this poem, I feel relaxed and full of enjoyment. Chris Wong Try reading the poem once more. It is presented below: |
| Window on Chinese Poetry |
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"Song of the Evening River" by Bai Ju Yi Remnants of sun ribbon the river half and half, black river red. Third night, ninth month, lovely hour; pearled dew, bent-bow moon. Adapted from a translation by Matthew Flannery |
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