Alipa and Yuanyanghua
Alipa and Yuanyanghua (A Li Pa He Yuan Yang Hua in Chinese) is a narrative poem about a folk love story of Tujia ethnic minority,translated into Chinese and collected by Xia Tian.
Alipa and Yuanyanghua tells a lamentable but sweet story.Alipa,a kindhearted beautiful girl,is the beloved daughter of a castellan.She loves life,living diligently and bravely.When coming across the young boatman,Abey,she fell in love with him and they were a loving couple.Unfortunately,Alipa was coveted and captured by a prince in a song fest,which made Abey inconsolable and commit suicide.After his death,he became a fountain in a lake and Alipa turned into a Yuanyang flower in the end.
The poem creates lively characters with vivid language and a fast-paced plot,which makes the story attractive.
Here is a stanza that describes the two lovers fall in love at first sight.
The new moon hangs in the sky.
The spring water flows in the lake.
Its blue waves kiss the moonlight.
It’s hard for people to fall asleep.
The daughter of the castellan upstairs,(https://www.daowen.com)
Why do you slightly close your eyes?
Is there anything in your mind
Arousing ripples in your heart?
She rolls over suddenly.
The ivory-inlaid bed trembled slightly.
Her fair skin is shining in the moonlight,
Slivery like the reflected light,
From the swimming white fish.