My Favorite Chinese Poet

[joynone]

I don't know how many people know the poet in you western world,but he is my and a lot of Chinese people's favorite.So I recommend him.




Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again

by Xu Zhimo

Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Quietly I wave good-bye
To the rosy clouds in the western sky.

The golden willows by the riverside
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections on the shimmering waves
Always linger in the depth of my heart.

The floating heart growing in the sludge
Sways leisurely under the water;
In the gentle waves of Cambridge
I would be a water plant!

That pool under the shade of elm trees
Holds not water but the rainbow from the sky;
Shattered to pieces among the duckweeds
Is the sediment of a rainbow-like dream?

To seek a dream? Just to pole a boat upstream
To where the green grass is more verdant;
Or to have the boat fully loaded with starlight
And sing aloud in the splendor of starlight.

But I cannot sing aloud
Quietness is my farewell music;
Even summer insects heap silence for me
Silent is Cambridge tonight!

Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Gently I flick my sleeves
Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away

[rosaachtzehn]

Wonderful words he did!

[Jean-Baptiste]

Welcome to the forums, joynone, and rosaachtzehn!

I like reading this very much, though I'm a bit confused as to the poets actual sentiments for Cambridge. Is it intended as a farewell to a loved place, or a "good riddance"? The majority of the poem seems to speak the former, but the last line (as well as the last stanza perhaps) suggests a dislike. In any case, I like that last line very much.

Is this a translated poem? It does have a distinct feeling of origin in English, but that may be the sign of an excellent translator. If it is translated, could you comment on the translation? Obviously you approve, or you would not have posted it, but I'm given to understand that translating Chinese poetry into English is an inherently difficult, and perhaps doomed endeavor. If it is not the case with this particular poem, I would be very interested in your answer with regard to any other translation of your choice.

[godhelpme2]

As a native Chinesse, i have learned the original Chinese one in my middle school. This is a romantic poem written by XuZhimo, who fell in love with Lin Huiyin in the college where Cambridge existed. But the poet was refused by her and he was rather disappointed and sad. This poem was done when he left the college and thought about his love. It is also quite popular in China and i dare say almost every student in China can recite the poem. I feel rather glad that you all enjoy it made in China.

[joynone]

hay,godhelpme2!I have a classmate who are also from Ningbo.nice to meet you

[joynone]

Jean-Baptiste,I am happy that you love the poem.You are right,this is a translated poem,and I don't know who translate her.I just want to say that the original version is much better that translated one.Chinese is a beautiful language. http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1256628752 This is my Chinese blog,you can see what is Chinese.

[sybilline]

It's really a lovely poem. The description of nature mingled with strong feelings, as well as a deep sense of motion, echo English pre-romantic and even romantic poets. The translation is quite poetic, and does not seem to betray its author. Is Xu Zhimo a contemporary and is it the present style of writing in China ? At any way, I am very glad to encounter a new poet, as Chinese poets are not studied yet at the university, at least in their English version.

[omegaxx]

To Jean-Baptiste:
This poem was originally written in Chinese. However, the poet has studied in Cambridge so there is a definitely "Western feel" to this poem.

To sybilline:
If I remember correctly, Xu studied English literature at Cambridge and was a great fan of Keats, hence all the Romantic imagery.
The chronology of Xu (1897-1931) coincides roughly with the modernists. He ended up in a rather unfortunate marriage and died, tragically young, in a plane crash--very like the Romantics I'd say!
Current Chinese poets do tend to write in freestyle, just as very few English poets write in sonnet form or blank verse anymore=)