This is where your comrade must leave you,
Turning at the foot of these purple mountains...
When shall we lift our cups again, I wonder,
As we did last night and walk in the moon?
The region is murmuring farewell
To one who was honoured through three reigns;
And back I go now to my river-village,
Into the final solitude.
Original Poem
「奉济驿重送严公四韵」
杜甫
远送从此别，青山空复情。
几时杯重把，昨夜月同行。
列郡讴歌惜，三朝出入荣。
将村独归处，寂寞养残生。
Interpretation
This poem was composed in the first year of the Baoying era of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty (762 AD). At the time, the nation was in turmoil, and Du Fu, living in exile, resided in a thatched cottage by the Huanhua Stream in Chengdu. His life was marked by displacement and hardship. During Yan Wu's tenure as the military governor of Jiannan in Sichuan, he provided Du Fu with much-needed support, becoming a pillar in his life. In the first year of Baoying, Emperor Suzong passed away, and Emperor Daizong ascended the throne. Yan Wu was summoned back to the capital, and Du Fu, filled with reluctance, wrote this poem to express his gratitude to Yan Wu and the sorrow of parting.
First Couplet: "远送从此别，青山空复情。"
Yuǎn sòng cóng cǐ bié, qīng shān kōng fù qíng.
Bidding farewell from afar, we part here, perhaps never to meet again. The green hills remain, but they can only hold my lingering emotions.
The opening couplet immediately establishes the theme of parting. Though the farewell is "from afar," the inevitability of separation is palpable. The poet uses the "green hills" to express his emotions—unchanging in their beauty, yet a reminder of the distance that now separates them, evoking a deep sense of melancholy.
Second Couplet: "几时杯重把，昨夜月同行。"
Jǐ shí bēi chóng bǎ, zuó yè yuè tóng xíng.
When will we again raise our cups together? Last night, we walked under the same moon, a memory that feels so near yet so far.
This couplet recalls the scene of bidding farewell under the moonlight the previous night, lamenting the unpredictability of life and the uncertainty of when they might reunite. The poet's use of "when" as a rhetorical question reflects his anxiety about the precariousness of official life and the unpredictability of the world, conveying profound emotion.
Third Couplet: "列郡讴歌惜，三朝出入荣。"
Liè jùn ōu gē xī, sān cháo chū rù róng.
The people of various regions sing praises, reluctant to see you go. Serving in three reigns, your comings and goings have been illustrious.
This couplet shifts to praise Yan Wu's achievements, highlighting his distinguished service under the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong, Suzong, and Daizong, as well as the admiration he garnered from the people. While it is a tribute to Yan Wu, it also reveals the poet's regret and reluctance to part with such a talented friend.
Fourth Couplet: "江村独归处，寂寞养残生。"
Jiāng cūn dú guī chù, jì mò yǎng cán shēng.
I return alone to the riverside village, where I will spend my remaining years in solitude.
This couplet brings the emotional intensity to its peak. The images of "returning alone," "solitude," and "remaining years" powerfully convey Du Fu's desolate state in his later years. With Yan Wu's departure, the poet feels a profound sense of helplessness and expresses deep concern for his future.
Overall Appreciation
This poem is deeply emotional, expressing both well-wishes for Yan Wu's return to the capital and lamentations over Du Fu's own lonely and difficult life. The poet uses imagery such as "green hills," "moonlight," and "riverside village" to create a somber and melancholic atmosphere, blending scene and emotion in a profoundly moving way. The first half of the poem focuses on the sorrow of parting, showcasing Du Fu's genuine affection for his friend, while the second half reflects on the desolation of returning alone, expressing the poet's helplessness in the face of fate and his despair for the future.
Writing Characteristics
- Sincere and Profound Emotion: The poem revolves around the theme of parting, gradually deepening to reveal the complex and profound emotions within Du Fu's heart.
- Vivid Imagery, Scene and Emotion Intertwined: Images such as "green hills," "moonlight," and "riverside village" are not only visually evocative but also imbued with the poet's emotions.
- Simple Language with Deep Meaning: The poem's language is plain yet含蓄 (subtle), with genuine and natural emotions that are deeply moving.
Insights
This poem reflects Du Fu's appreciation for friendship and his anxieties about the future during a time of turmoil. Through the layered progression of emotions—reluctance to part, loneliness, and helplessness—the poet reminds us to cherish the people and moments in our lives. Even in the face of adversity, we should approach life's hardships with resilience. Du Fu's sentiments are not merely a lament for his personal fate but also a profound expression of his concerns for the nation and his family.
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.
