Flickering, you shed a green light;
Wafting weak wings, you flit in flight.
Being afraid to be unknown,
In the darkness you gleam alone.
Original Poem:
「咏萤」
虞世南
的历流光小，飘飖弱翅轻。
恐畏无人识，独自暗中明。
Interpretation:
This is a fresh and elegant aria poem, the author through the aria of the flow of fireflies to express the philosophy of the object is small but not hinder its glory.
In the first two lines, the delicate body emits a faint light, and the delicate wings flutter gently.
From the point of view of the shape of the flight of the firefly, the luminous state of the beginning of writing, writing out the firefly's weakness.
The last two sentences: I am afraid that no one will recognize myself, and I will fly around in the dark alone to emit light.
Then peep into the inner world of the firefly: how tenacious personality, how valuable pursuit, despite the weakness of its own life, but it is not willing to be obscure, unwilling to give up on themselves, preferring to flash in the dark night, tenaciously show their existence, and obsessively realize the value of their lives.
Appears in front of the readers of the firefly, is not a small flying insects, an insignificant life, but a living elf, a unique personality, the chest of extraordinary perseverance, the image of its greatness, people respect, and urge people to think deeply and introspection.
This poem is about a small insect like a firefly that tries hard to let out its light in the bleak night, so that its existence is known by everyone. The whole poem is a metaphor for others, and it also symbolizes the poet's feelings about his own life, which is very unique.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Yu Shinan (虞世南), 558 A.D. - 638 A.D., was a native of Zhejiang Province. He was an accomplished writer and calligrapher.
