Lesson Channels » Poems with pete

All good things must come to an end. In today's poem, Lǐ Bái (李白) bids farewell to his friends over a glass of wine (or five). Please see here for the lyrics and chords of "The Parting Glass." The clip in the lesson is by John McDermott. If you have a favorite poem or song about saying good-bye, please share it below.

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Today's poem is by one of the most renowned Tang poets, Dù Fǔ (杜甫). Written during the ferocious An Lushan Rebellion (安史之乱), it expresses the human cost of civil war. For more background information about the poem and the historical context, please check out these links .

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The mighty Yangtze River has always been an inspiration for Chinese poets. Today's Poem, by Wáng Wān （王湾 ) is about the start of Spring on China's greatest waterway. There are fourteen fun dialect readings here. And check out this Google map to get some geographic perspective.

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Today we're looking at a poem by Pete's favorite Tang poet, Lǐ Shāngyǐn (李商隐). For more than a thousand years, scholars have debated the meaning of this mysterious, abstract piece. Don't be scared away, though. There's something for everyone in this lesson, whether it's your first Chinese poem or your three hundredth. Pete got lots of useful information from a variety of sources. Check them out!

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Join Pete as he brings to life the Tang poem 'Seeing off a Monk, Returning to Japan - 送僧归日本'(Sòng sēng guī Rìběn) by Qián Qǐ (钱起). For some interesting readings of the poem, please see here.

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Today's poem is about looking for a hermit in the mountains. It's by Jiǎ Dǎo (贾岛), a Tang poet who knew something about the quest for wisdom. Please see this link for the lyrics of "The Fool on the Hill."

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Today's Poem with Pete is about a watching the sunset. At least, that's the most obvious interpretation. But could Lǐ Shāngyǐn (李商隐） be trying to tell us something more? Listen to today's podcast and and find out. Pete found these detailed discussions of the poem in Chinese very informative. And if you have your own interpretation, please share it in the comments!

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Today's Poem with Pete is about family culture in traditional China. Wáng Jiàn (王建) describes a new bride's attempt to fit in to her new family. For more background about the poem, check out this article. If you're curious about the Book of Rites, please see here. And poddies, we'd love to hear about your experiences in family blending.

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Today, Pete will discuss two poems, Playing the Qín 弹琴, by Liú Chángqīng (刘长卿) and Listening to the Gǔzhēng 听筝, by Lǐ Duān (李端). We'll talk about the two instruments, and compare their sounds. Then, we'll dig deeper into the meaning of these poems. There's more to both poems than meets the eye -- or the ear.

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This week's Poem with Pete is about the upcoming Tomb Sweeping Festival, 清明节. This poem is by Tang man of letters Dù Mù (杜牧). Check out these Chinese articles for more information about the poem. If you have memories or questions about this festival, please share them with us in the comments!

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