By Chance - a poem - 偶然

偶然 - 徐志摩

By chance, was chatting with a friend and re-discovered this poem by the late poet Xu Zhimo in the modern Chinese literature era. Compared with the "old" poems and literature before the 19th Century, the language and grammar in modern Chinese literature are more similar to the Chinese teaching nowadays in the classroom. A simple poem with deeper thoughts.....

我是天空里的一片云，
偶尔投影在你的波心---
你不必讶异，
更无须欢喜---
在转瞬间消灭了踪迹。

你我相逢在黑夜的海上，
你有你的，我有我的，方向；
你记得也好，
最好你忘掉，
在这交会时互放的光亮！

Chance

I am a cloud in the sky,
A chance shadow on the wave of your heart.
Don't be surprised,
Or too elated;
In an instant I shall vanish without trace.

We meet on the sea of dark night,
You on your way, I on mine.
Remember if you will,
Or, better still, forget
The light exchanged in this encounter.

Translations are from the website Reminiscences of Xu Zhimo

Other Xu Zhimo's famous works include Saying Goodbye, Again, Cambridge & Petite.