Mist veils the cold stream, and moonlight the sand,
As I moor in the shadow of a river-tavern,
Where girls, with no thought of a perished kingdom,
Gaily echo A Song of Courtyard Flowers.
Original Poem:
「泊秦淮」
杜牧
烟笼寒水月笼沙，夜泊秦淮近酒家。
商女不知亡国恨，隔江犹唱后庭花。
Interpretation:
This poem is a traveling poem. The poet went to Yangzhou to serve as an assassin, passing by the ancient capital of six dynasties, Jiankang. Although the capital of Tang is not here, the prosperous scene of the Qinhuai River on both sides of the river is even more serious than that of Kyoto.
Soft and quiet and clear ripples slightly floating, light ink and a hazy cold atmosphere.
The second sentence seems to be plain, but it is quite savorable. This sentence starts and continues, leading the whole chapter, constructing a fine and distinctive style.
Businesswoman was serving others as a songstress, sing what all depends on the listener’s interest, see the poet’s third sentence is a kind of pen, to say “I do not know the hatred of the dead country” is the one who is here to play – the aristocrats and the gentry.
About the poet:
Du Mu (杜牧), 803-853 AD, was a native of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Among the poets of the Late Tang Dynasty, he was one of those who had his own characteristics, and later people called Li Shangyin and Du Mu as “Little Li and Du”. His poems are bright and colorful.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
