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Crossing the Han River, Li Pin (Tang Shi #250)
Friday, 14 June 2019 08:59News was cut by the Wuling Mountains,
But after winter, spring returns.
Approaching home, I’m getting nervous:
I don’t dare ask this man from there.
渡汉江
岭外音书绝，
经冬复立春。
近乡情更怯，
不敢问来人。
The Wuling (“Five Ridges”) Mountains are the border between Hunan and Guandong, the latter being where Li Pin’s hometown was. “But” is added to make the contrast clearer in English; “now” would also be a defensible connector.
It’s not a rhyme, but I kinda like this pattern of feminine/masculine endings (we REALLY need better terms for those) echoing the rhymed lines. I’ve done this in more than one poem now, and it feels like a nice slantways way of gesturing at the sonic pattern.
---L.
But after winter, spring returns.
Approaching home, I’m getting nervous:
I don’t dare ask this man from there.
渡汉江
岭外音书绝，
经冬复立春。
近乡情更怯，
不敢问来人。
The Wuling (“Five Ridges”) Mountains are the border between Hunan and Guandong, the latter being where Li Pin’s hometown was. “But” is added to make the contrast clearer in English; “now” would also be a defensible connector.
It’s not a rhyme, but I kinda like this pattern of feminine/masculine endings (we REALLY need better terms for those) echoing the rhymed lines. I’ve done this in more than one poem now, and it feels like a nice slantways way of gesturing at the sonic pattern.
---L.