This cloud, that has drifted all day through the sky,
May, like a wanderer, never come back….
Three nights now I have dreamed of you --
As tender, intimate and real as though I were awake.
And then, abruptly rising to go,
You told me the perils of adventure
By river and lake-the storms, the wrecks,
The fears that are borne on a little boat;
And, here in my doorway, you rubbed your white head
As if there were something puzzling you.
…Our capital teems with officious people,
While you are alone and helpless and poor.
Who says that the heavenly net never fails?
It has brought you ill fortune, old as you are.
…A thousand years' fame, ten thousand years' fame-
What good, when you are dead and gone.
Original Poem:
「梦李白二首 · 其二」
杜甫
浮云终日行，游子久不至。
三夜频梦君，情亲见君意。
告归常局促，苦道来不易。
江湖多风波，舟楫恐失坠。
出门搔白首，若负平生志。
冠盖满京华，斯人独憔悴。
孰云网恢恢，将老身反累。
千秋万岁名，寂寞身后事。
Interpretation:
This poem is the second in Du Fu's series Seeing Li Bai in a Dream, composed in the spring of the second year of the Qianyuan era of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty (759 AD). At the time, Du Fu had recently settled in his thatched cottage in Chengdu, while Li Bai had been exiled to Yelang for his involvement in the rebellion of Prince Yong, Li Lin. Though their circumstances differed, both poets shared the pain of displacement. Deeply concerned for his friend, Du Fu frequently dreamed of Li Bai, and this poem expresses his profound worry and longing.
First Couplet: "浮云终日行，游子久不至。"
Fú yún zhōng rì xíng, yóu zǐ jiǔ bù zhì.
The floating clouds drift all day, yet the wanderer has not returned for so long.
The poet uses the image of floating clouds to symbolize Li Bai's rootless wandering and highlights his prolonged absence. The "floating clouds" allude to a motif from the Nineteen Old Poems, symbolizing the impermanence and uncertainty of life, intensifying Du Fu's concern for Li Bai.
Second Couplet: "三夜频梦君，情亲见君意。"
Sān yè pín mèng jūn, qíng qīn jiàn jūn yì.
For three nights in a row, I have dreamed of you; in the dreams, your affection and intentions are vividly clear.
"Dreaming of you three nights in a row" conveys the depth of Du Fu's longing, while "your affection and intentions" reveal the sincerity of their friendship. In Du Fu's eyes, Li Bai is not only a poetic genius but also a deeply cherished friend.
Third Couplet: "告归常局促，苦道来不易。"
Gào guī cháng jú cù, kǔ dào lái bù yì.
Each time you bid farewell in the dream, you seem uneasy, lamenting how difficult it is to come here.
Du Fu portrays Li Bai as struggling under adversity. Li Bai's unease in the dream reflects the pain and loneliness of his wandering life.
Fourth Couplet: "江湖多风波，舟楫恐失坠。"
Jiāng hú duō fēng bō, zhōu jí kǒng shī zhuì.
The rivers and lakes are full of storms; the boat may capsize at any moment.
On the surface, this line describes Li Bai's fear of the dangers of travel, but it also symbolizes the turmoil and peril of his life, hinting at the crises he faces.
Fifth Couplet: "出门搔白首，若负平生志。"
Chū mén sāo bái shǒu, ruò fù píng shēng zhì.
Each time you go out, you scratch your white-haired head, as if burdened by unfulfilled ambitions.
The poet depicts Li Bai's sorrow over his wasted years and unfulfilled aspirations, further emphasizing his frustration.
Sixth Couplet: "冠盖满京华，斯人独憔悴。"
Guān gài mǎn jīng huá, sī rén dú qiáo cuì.
The capital is filled with high officials, yet you alone are haggard and worn.
"High officials" symbolize the powerful, and their presence contrasts sharply with Li Bai's落魄 (downfall), exposing the indifference and injustice of society and expressing Du Fu's indignation at Li Bai's plight.
Seventh Couplet: "孰云网恢恢，将老身反累。"
Shú yún wǎng huī huī, jiāng lǎo shēn fǎn lèi.
Who says the net of heaven is vast and just? In old age, you are instead burdened and exhausted.
This line questions the fairness of fate, lamenting Li Bai's lifelong struggles and repeated setbacks.
Eighth Couplet: "千秋万岁名，寂寞身后事。"
Qiān qiū wàn suì míng, jì mò shēn hòu shì.
Though your name will endure for millennia, your life is one of loneliness and hardship.
With a sorrowful tone, the poet expresses his regret for Li Bai, using the word "loneliness" to encapsulate the endless sadness of Li Bai's life.
Overall Appreciation
Through the depiction of Li Bai in his dreams, Du Fu expresses his deep concern and endless sorrow for his friend. In the dream, Du Fu portrays Li Bai's困境 (predicament) and melancholy demeanor, channeling his own indignation at his friend's misfortunes. With profound emotion and vivid imagery, Du Fu creates a portrait of Li Bai as a man of great talent and unfulfilled ambitions, evoking deep sadness.
Writing Characteristics
- Deep Emotion, Genuine and Moving: Through the unique perspective of dreams, the poet vividly conveys his思念 (longing),怜惜 (pity), and惋叹 (regret) for Li Bai.
- Vivid Contrasts, Sharp Satire: The stark contrast between "the capital filled with high officials" and "you alone are haggard" highlights Li Bai's tragic fate and exposes the injustice of society.
- Concise Language, Profound Meaning: Lines like "the rivers and lakes are full of storms" and "the boat may capsize" not only describe the dangers of travel but also symbolize the hardships of life, rich in metaphorical significance.
Insights
Du Fu's deep friendship with Li Bai and his profound sympathy for Li Bai's suffering reflect his broad-minded concern for his friends and society. The line "though your name will endure for millennia, your life is one of loneliness" is particularly poignant, reminding us that while pursuing fame, we should also focus on the value of life and the richness of our inner selves. Through Li Bai's misfortunes, the poet critiques the injustices of society, issuing a powerful indictment of reality with profound relevance for his time.
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.
