A long climb by Du Fu

In a sharp gale from the wide sky apes are whimpering,
Birds are flying homeward over the clear lake and white sand,
Leaves are dropping down like the spray of a waterfall,
While I watch the long river always rolling on.
I have come three thousand miles away. Sad now with autumn
And with my hundred years of woe, I climb this height alone.
Ill fortune has laid a bitter frost on my temples,
Heart-ache and weariness are a thick dust in my wine.

Original Poem

「登高」
风急天高猿啸哀， 渚清沙白鸟飞回。
无边落木萧萧下， 不尽长江滚滚来。
万里悲秋常作客， 百年多病独登台。
艰难苦恨繁霜鬓， 潦倒新停浊酒杯。

杜甫

Interpretation

This poem was written in the autumn of the second year of Dali during the reign of Emperor Daizong of Tang (767 AD) while Du Fu was living in Kuizhou (present-day Fengjie, Chongqing). At that time, Du Fu was nearing sixty, plagued by illness, and deeply troubled by the state of the country and his personal hardships. Facing such adversity, the poet climbed a high tower alone on the Double Ninth Festival, expressing his complex emotions through this poem.

First Couplet:** “风急天高猿啸哀，渚清沙白鸟飞回。”
fēng jí tiān gāo yuán xiào āi, zhǔ qīng shā bái niǎo fēi huí.
The wind blows fiercely, the sky is vast, and the monkeys cry mournfully; the islet is clear, the sands are white, and the birds circle back and forth.

The first couplet paints the distinct autumn scenery of the Three Gorges region, emphasizing the chilling vastness created by the "fierce wind" and "high sky." The mournful cries of the monkeys add to the desolate atmosphere. As the poet’s gaze shifts to the riverbank, he sees clear waters and white sands, with birds spiraling in the air. This cold and lonely scene subtly reflects the poet's inner sorrow and grief.

Second Couplet: “无边落木萧萧下，不尽长江滚滚来。”
wú biān luò mù xiāo xiāo xià, bù jìn cháng jiāng gǔn gǔn lái.
Endless leaves fall rustling from boundless trees; the Yangtze River rolls on unceasingly.

The poet's view extends from the immediate scene to the distant landscape. Countless leaves fall in the autumn wind, evoking the bleakness of the season. Meanwhile, the Yangtze's relentless flow symbolizes the ceaseless passage of time and life's impermanence. The phrases "endless" and "unceasing" create a sense of vastness and grandeur, blending scenery with emotion and revealing the poet's profound reflection on the transience of life.

Third Couplet: “万里悲秋常作客，百年多病独登台。”
wàn lǐ bēi qiū cháng zuò kè, bǎi nián duō bìng dú dēng tái.
In this sorrowful autumn, I wander far from home, a constant guest; aged and ailing, I climb the tower alone today.

Here, the poet turns from observing nature to lamenting his own circumstances. The phrase "ten thousand miles" encapsulates his years of wandering and exile, while "a hundred years" highlights his old age and deteriorating health. The word "alone" emphasizes his isolation and deepens the sense of loneliness that pervades the poem.

Fourth Couplet: “艰难苦恨繁霜鬓，潦倒新停浊酒杯。”
jiān nán kǔ hèn fán shuāng bìn, liáo dǎo xīn tíng zhuó jiǔ bēi.
Endless hardships have turned my hair frost-white; impoverished and weary, I have just put down my cup of murky wine.

In the final couplet, the poet reflects on his struggles. His white hair, as described by "frost-white temples," symbolizes the toll hardship has taken on him. The mention of "murky wine" implies his attempt to drown his sorrows, yet even this feeble comfort has been abandoned. The imagery of prematurely graying hair and setting down his wine cup underscores the depth of his suffering and resignation.

Overall Analysis

This poem revolves around the unique autumn scenery of Kuizhou, blending the poet's observations with his personal grief. The opening couplet paints a desolate landscape; the second expands the scene to evoke a sense of vastness and unending change; the third couplet shifts to the poet's reflections on his own plight, and the final lines convey a poignant resignation to hardship. The poem’s progression from scenery to introspection creates a powerful emotional crescendo.

Writing Features

• Blending of Scenery and Emotion: The poet masterfully channels his feelings of isolation and grief through his description of nature.
• Careful Structure and Balanced Phrasing: Each couplet features meticulously crafted parallelism, with precise language and rhythmic balance that exemplifies Du Fu's mastery of regulated verse.
• Evocative Language and Expansive Imagery: Words like "endless" and "unceasing" create a sense of vastness and inevitability, subtly conveying the poet's reflection on time's relentless passage and life's fleeting nature.

Insights

Du Fu’s poem reflects his profound concern for his country and his personal struggles. Despite enduring illness, hardship, and displacement, the poet remained deeply engaged with societal realities. His ability to intertwine personal anguish with broader reflections on life reveals a resilient spirit and an unwavering sense of duty. Du Fu's perseverance and compassion continue to inspire readers today, reminding us of the importance of facing adversity with courage and integrity.

Poem translator

Kiang Kanghu

About the poet

Du Fu (杜甫), 712 - 770 AD, was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, known as the "Sage of Poetry". Born into a declining bureaucratic family, Du Fu had a rough life, and his turbulent and dislocated life made him keenly aware of the plight of the masses. Therefore, his poems were always closely related to the current affairs, reflecting the social life of that era in a more comprehensive way, with profound thoughts and a broad realm. In his poetic art, he was able to combine many styles, forming a unique style of "profound and thick", and becoming a great realist poet in the history of China.