Ma Zhiyuan's (1260-1364 马致远) sanqu (散曲) poem "Autumn Thoughts" (秋思), composed to the metric pattern Tianjingsha (天淨沙), uses ten images in twenty-two monosyllables to preamble a state of emotion, and is considered as the masterpiece in Chinese poetry to convey the typical Chinese literati's melancholy during late autumn: 《天淨沙 - 秋思》 1 枯藤老樹昏鴉 2 小橋流水人家 3 古道西風瘦馬 4 夕陽西下 5 斷腸人在天涯 Autumn Thoughts 1. A withered vine, an ancient tree, crows at dusk 2. A little bridge, a flowing stream, some huts 3. An old road, wind out of the west, an emaciated horse 4.5. On the horizon at sunset is a heart-broken man. （Wikipedia) Tian Jing Sha (Heavenly Pure Sand) -- Autumn Thoughts 1 An old tree, dried vines entwined, by ev’ning crows come roosting; 2 O’er a small bridge, by a running stream, homes of people nestling. 3 On an old road, in the autumn wind, a scrawny horse keeps trudging. 4 The sun, slanting, to the west, setting --- 5 Heart-torn, lovelorn, the wanderer, to the verge of the sky a-roaming. |
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