Walking Alone On A River Bank Seeking Flowers... By Du Fu (Early 8th Century) Poem by Eugene Levich

It is possible, even likely, that Du Fu’s butterflies represent dancing girls and his orioles songstresses. For that reason I have suggested 'ecstasy' as this poem's topic. Who was Fourth Lady Huang? The answer lies buried in the deep sands of time. In reading this type of seven syllable poem one should voice the first four syllables together and then, after a slight pause, the final three. I have indicated this division with slash marks.

Du Fu is traditionally regarded as China's greatest poet.

I wish to express my thanks to Laijon Liu who led the way by rendering an earlier translation of this poem. His numerous translations of Chinese poems are available here on poemhunter.com.