Member Poem

Listening to the Zither

 
Li Duan (743 – 782?)
 
 
She plucks the zither, wood engrained in gold,
With silky hands beside a room of jade;
To make the gentleman there notice her
He sees at times her brushing hand has strayed.
 
 

 
 
Transliteration and Notes
 
Listening Zither
 
Shrieks zither gold grain pillar
Silk hand jade room by
Desire have Zhou gentleman notice
Often times err brush string
 
This poem tells the humorous tale of a beautiful woman playing the zither (“silk hands” means fair or delicate hands in this context, symbolizing beauty). She notices a gentleman from Zhou, probably the author, and tries to get his attention by occasionally plucking the wrong note.