By this wall that surrounds the three Qin districts,
Through a mist that makes five rivers one,
We bid each other a sad farewell,
We two officials going opposite ways....
And yet, while China holds our friendship,
And heaven remains our neighbourhood,
Why should you linger at the fork of the road,
Wiping your eyes like a heart-broken child?
Original Poem:
「送杜少府之任蜀州」
王勃
城阙辅三秦， 风烟望五津。
与君离别意， 同是宦游人。
海内存知己， 天涯若比邻。
无为在歧路， 儿女共沾巾。
Interpretation:
This is a famous farewell poem written by Wang Bo when he was serving in Chang’an to send Du Shaofu to Chongzhou in Sichuan Province.
At the beginning of the poem, the city walls and palaces of Chang’an are guarded by the land of Sanqin. This line sweeps away the gloomy image often found in previous farewell poems, with a majestic start. Wujin refers to the five crossings of the Yangtze River in Sichuan Province, and refers to the Sichuan River in general.
The poet did not go on to describe the feelings of parting, but a turn of the pen, turned to say that you and I are far from the homeland of the eunuchs ah, each other should be able to appreciate the mood of it. Perhaps too many thoughts, perhaps there is no way to say, the poet here intentionally skipped the narrative of the many thoughts, leaving a blank for the reader to fill, so that the imagination of the space to further expand.
Separation is sad, but the poet did not stay in the sadness, the neck line of the brush a swing, the mood and open up.
The final couplet follows the first three couplets, thus consoling Du Shaofu. Farewell often break up at the fork in the road, the poet is about to break up when the words to console Du Shaofu, do not break up at the time of wiping tears, like a child, as long as the heart of the heart, far away from the end of the world is not also as close as at hand?
This poem fully reveals the poet’s sincere friendship and open-mindedness. The whole poem has a staccato rhythm, a flow of chi, and an open-minded mood. A wash of ancient farewell poems in the sadness and pathos of the air, tone bright, unique monument, fresh and far-reaching.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the Poet:
Wang Bo(王勃) was a native of Hejin, Shanxi Province, circa 650 – 676 AD. He was a native of Hejin, Shanxi Province. He showed his talent when he was young, and was known as one of the “Four Great Poets of the Early Tang Dynasty” together with Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin, and Luo Binwang. Wang Bo’s poems emphasized his personal life, but there were also a few poems that expressed his political sentiments and implied his dissatisfaction with the rich and powerful families, and his style was relatively fresh.
