Chinese Classical Poem 0049: Xiao Chi -- Little Pool & Shirley Created Music-0039

LISTEN TO THE TEXTLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM


Hi, friends, have you been to China? China is a poetical country. In our daily life, we often use some lines as a usual sentence to make our language is more implicative and easy to understand.

For example, when we say something just is revealed a little, its most of the part that is better/worse is behind or it is hidden and has not been showed, we often say: Xiao He Cai Lu Jianjian Jiao -- A tender lotus leaf just extends out of the water… many people who are speaking this sentence do not know, in fact, she or he is just quoting a line that is from a little Chinese classical poem Xiao Chi -- A little Pool by Song Dynasty((960 - 1279) poet Yang Wangli(1127 - 1206).

This is a very little poem that writes a beautiful view in the early summer. It is very simple, natural and full of the vitality of life:

A peaceful mouth of spring cherishes the little streamlet,
and let her flowing into the pool quietly,
The tree shade is reflecting in the water,
seems like it loves the soft view in the fine day.
A tender lotus leaf just extends out of the water,
before it has opened her body,   
A green dragonfly has stood on it early...

Every line is poem, every line is a picture, so that I had a very strong feeling that I wanted to paint a new picture of water lilies in the water and dragonfly or bees over the flowers when I was reading it... :-)

This poem is known widely, that is why it has been chosen into the text book of the elementary school already.

For I really like this little poem and also for helping you to improve your listening ability to Chinese language, I have created a piece of music to match it and hope you enjoy my poem comments, music and singing,..


MAIN MEANING OF THE POEMLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM :

A Little Pool

By Yang Wangli (Song Dynasty)

The peaceful mouth of spring cherishes the little streamlet,
and let her flowing into the pool quietly,
The tree shade is reflecting in the pool water,
seems like it is loving the soft view in the fine day.
A tender lotus leaf just extends out of the water,
before it has opened her body,   
A green dragonfly has stood on it early...


NEW WORDS AND RONUNCIATION :

Please hit any Chinese character that you need help with, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, and meaning and follow me to read it.


CHINESE CHARACTERS :

小池

杨万里   ( 宋 )

泉眼无声惜细流，
树阴照水爱晴柔。
小荷才露尖尖角，
早有蜻蜓立上头。


LISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM :

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcome to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well.
--Shirley
Written, Sung, Translated and Recorded on Sun, July 23, 2006