Analysis of Tz'u No. 1

Li Ching Chao 1804 (Jinan, Shandong) – 1155 (Shaoxing, Zhejiang)



To the tune "Courtyard Filled with Fragrance"

Fragrant grass beside the pond
green shade over the hall
a clear cold comes through
the window curtains
crescent moon beyond the golden bars
and a flute sounds
as if someone were coming
but alone on my mat with a cup
gazing sadly into nothingness
I want to call back
the blackberry flowers
that have fallen
though pear blossoms remain
for in that distant year
I came to love their fresh fragrance
scenting my sleeve
as we culled petals over the fire
when as far as the eye could see
were dragon boats on the river
graceful horses and gay carts
when I did not fear the mad winds
and violent rain
as we drank to good fortune
with warm blackberry wine
now I cannot conceive
how to retrieve that time.


Scheme A XXXXXXXXXXXBCXADEXEXXCBXDX
Poetic Form
Metre 10111110 1010101 111001 01111 01010 101010101 0011 111010 101111101 101001100 11111 01010 1110 111001 101101 11111110 111 1111010010 11110111 01011010 1010011 11111011 01001 1111110 11101 111001 110111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 725
Words 140
Sentences 2
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 1, 26
Lines Amount 27
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 302
Words per stanza (avg) 69
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

42 sec read
22

Li Ching Chao

Li Qingzhao, pseudonym Householder of Yi'an (易安居士), was a Chinese poet and essayist during the Song dynasty.[2] She is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. more…

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