Soughing, the cool breeze blows;
My wooded dell clean grows.
It drives smoke off the rill,
Rolls up mist over the hill,
Leaves no trace when we part,
And moves as if moved at heart.
When sunset calms the scene,
Hear the song of pines green.
Original Poem:
「咏风」
王勃
肃肃凉风生，加我林壑清。
驱烟寻涧户，卷雾出山楹。
去来固无迹，动息如有情。
日落山水静，为君起松声。
Interpretation:
This poem compares the wind to a human being, praises the wind's noble character and diligent spirit, and expresses the poet's sentiment of universal help for all the people in the world.
The first two lines: In the early fall when the heat is not yet gone, a cool wind blows solemnly, and the valley and forest become refreshingly cool at once.
Xi Xi cool wind floating at first, the wind regardless of the deep ditch or shallow ravine, regardless of the high and low, the north wind are all over the favor, showing the poet's broad-mindedness.
The third and fourth lines: it blew away the smoke and clouds in the mountains, swept away the mist between the mountains, showing the mountains and streams next to the people's houses.
Describe the specific mood of the wind in delivering refreshment to the common people. The wind dispersed the smoke and clouds, swept away the mist and fog, and brought freshness to the people through the mountain houses and streams.
Sentences 5 and 6: The cool wind comes and goes without a trace, but its blowing and stopping seem to be very emotional and agreeable.
These two lines praise the character of the wind. The wind's erratic behavior makes it seem as if it is doing favors to people without seeking anything in return. The wind is generous and generous, sparing no effort, coming and going as if it were a man of love and justice.
The last two lines: when the red sun goes down in the west, the earth and mountains are silent, it is blowing from the pine forests, sounding a pine waves.
During the day, the wind sends coolness to the people who work, and in the quiet evening, it blows the pleasant sound of pine waves for the people who rest. Most of the people who appreciate the pine waves are scholars or hermits, including the poet himself.
This poem has a novel idea to capture the cool, pleasant and omnipresent characteristics of the autumn wind, and with the technique of anthropomorphism, the wind is written in a generous and selfless way, with a unique spirit.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
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.
