J - Jueju

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J - Jueju

Jueju is a Chinese verse that was popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).  It has stanzas of four lines, each line having either five or seven syllables.  The five line is called a wujue, the seven qijue; wu and qi meaning five and seven.

Apparently there is a lot more to jueju than that though, and it's difficult in English.  So forgive my clumsy efforts.

"...the process of creating a Jueju is complicated by the need to ensure the alternating of level and oblique tones in each line, which can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with the tonal nature of the spoken Chinese language."

 www.poetrysoup.com/dictionary/jueju

Yes, young me in a hillside of mustard!


The wild mustard on the hill

is blooming in springtime still.

Far fewer than in my youth;

child's false mem'ry, or the truth?


©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 11, 2024 at 7:15 PM

    I guess it would really be impossible to create a pure Jueju in English without the different tonal qualities. Loved your Jueju. I think it is often a false memory, but I know some things to be true. Looks to me like the mustard may be rarer in fields like this now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna JT SmithApril 12, 2024 at 3:43 AM

      Anonymous was Donna JT Smith...I hate how you have to remember to select now! Mine is the same.

      Delete
  2. Anne E.G. NydamApril 16, 2024 at 11:46 AM

    Maybe it's not really a proper jueju, but it's a wonderful poem.
    https://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2024/04/magical-botany-j.html

    ReplyDelete

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