Chinese love poem - 致橡树(zhixiangshu)-To the oak by Shu Ting - with English translation

To Oak 致橡树 is a classic love poem that paints love as two trees standing side-by-side, supporting each other while remaining individuals, a love that is based on a common faith and goal that is beyond the surface. Misty Poet Shu Ting wrote the poem in response to a traditional view of love based on idolization and self-sacrifice, in particular by the female in the relationship.
《致橡树》
舒婷
我如果爱你--
绝不像攀援的凌霄花，
借你的高枝炫耀自己；
我如果爱你--
绝不学痴情的鸟儿，
为绿荫重复单调的歌曲；
也不止像泉源，
常年送来清凉的慰藉；
也不止像险峰，
增加你的高度，衬托你的威仪。
甚至日光，
甚至春雨。
不，这些都还不够！
我必须是你近旁的一株木棉，
作为树的形象和你站在一起。
根，紧握在地下；
叶，相触在云里。
每一阵风过，
我们都互相致意，
但没有人，
听懂我们的言语。
你有你的铜枝铁干，
像刀，像剑，也像戟；
我有我红硕的花朵，
像沉重的叹息，
又像英勇的火炬。
我们分担寒潮、风雷、霹雳；
我们共享雾霭、流岚、虹霓。
仿佛永远分离，
却又终身相依。
这才是伟大的爱情，
坚贞就在这里：
爱--
不仅爱你伟岸的身躯，
也爱你坚持的位置，
足下的土地。
To the Oak
If I love you
I won't wind upon you like a trumpet creeper
upvalue myself by your height
If I love you
I will never follow a spoony bird
repeating the monotone song for the green shade
not only like a spring head
brings you clean coolness whole year long
not only like a steepy peak
enhances your height,
sets off your straightness
even sunshine
and spring rain
No, all these are not enough!
I must be a ceiba by your side
as a tree standing together with you
our roots melt underneath
our leaves merge in clouds
when wind breezes
we greet each other
but no one
can understand our peculiar words
you have your strong stem and branches
like knives and swords
and like halberds
I have my red ample flowers
like heavy sighs
and heroic torches as well
we partake cold tide,
thunder storm, firebolt
together we share brume,
flowing mist,rainbow
as if we separate all the time
actually we forever rely on each other
this is great love
loyalty lives here
LOVE
not only your giant body
but also the position you stand,
the earth under your feet
#chinesepoem#Zhixiangshu#Shuting#Chinese#poems

[@jirik2435]

I am starting to get addicted to your videos!
The poem is very different from classical poems with fixed characters per line.
Question: The first line says 我如果爱你. How would the meaning change if it was 如果我爱你 ？

[@smokyshifu1314]

Thank you so much for your support. Yes this poem is a modern poetry. To answer your question, 我如果爱你 vs 如果我爱你，they are literally the same. To make the poetry sounds more fluent and romantic, the first one is better. Please let me know what I can improve or add to my videos. And what type of poems you are interested in learning. It would be really helpful for me to improve my channel ☺️ thank you!

[@jirik2435]

@@smokyshifu1314 Thanks for your response. Therer is a song with the line 如果我们有来生。。。。so I assumed that this would be the preferred format for song/poem. ua-cam.com/video/Spp1POfNjUE/v-deo.html
You are already doing quite well with your videos- Almost 500 subscribers in 18 months is very good, especially since you are not using obvious clickbaits to get more views.
For non Chinese viewers you could add more explanation about the poem. Also choosing words that are more understandable to English readers. "Misty Poet Shu Ting" - I can guess what "misty" might mean but I suspect it is not really meaningful until it is translated back into Chinese.
What am I interested in? As someone with limited Chinese language skills I prefer poems with simple words that I can understand. Also if the poems have been made into a song or are famous that is an added bonus. But this is just the interest of one random commenter, so be careful!!!

[@smokyshifu1314]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your time and your thoughtful advice! Also, thanks for encouraging me, I will definitely take your suggestions into consideration, please feel free to leave me any comments on any new uploads. Appreciate your help again 😊

[@jirik2435]

@@smokyshifu1314 When I first saw the title of the video I thought it might be a Chinese version of this European story.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baucis_and_Philemon
I think their roots are also supposed to be intertwined, which might ring a bell!!

[@smokyshifu1314]

@@jirik2435 Thanks for sharing, I just read the story you shared. Its so beautiful!

[@jirik2435]

By chance I came across this on UA-cam.
ua-cam.com/video/1wBtBV99xCw/v-deo.html
I think the producer of the video is coaching Indians to take the Indian Civil Service exams. Interesting !
I didn't know what "Misty Poets" was before, now I know a bit more. Is that why you have "smoky" in your UA-cam name?

[@smokyshifu1314]

Haha that’s interesting. Smoky is actually my dog’s name, I am using her name as my channel’s name because she is very special for me. 😊 Shifu means teacher.