From whose house has come the song of jade flute unseen?
It fills the town of Luoyang, spread by wind of spring.
Tonight I hear the farewell song of Willow Green.
To whom the tune will not nostalgic feeling bring?
Original Poem:
「春夜洛城闻笛」
李白
谁家玉笛暗飞声，散入春风满洛城。
此夜曲中闻折柳，何人不起故园情。
Interpretation:
"Hearing the Flute on a Spring Night in Luoyang" is a seven-character quatrain by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. This poem was written during his stay in Luoyang and reflects the poet’s deep homesickness after hearing the sound of a flute on a spring night. Having left his hometown in Sichuan over twenty years ago, Li Bai, a long-time wanderer, felt the ache of separation more acutely. The quiet spring night and the flute's melody stirred within him a profound longing for home.
First Line:“谁家玉笛暗飞声”
(Whose jade flute is being played, with its sound drifting gently through the night?)
The opening line poses a question about the source of the flute's sound. The word “dark” adds an element of mystery to the scene, creating an enigmatic atmosphere. The poet doesn’t describe the source of the flute directly, but instead crafts an evocative auditory image.
Second Line:“散入春风满洛城”
(The flute’s sound is carried by the spring breeze, spreading throughout the entire city of Luoyang.)
The words "scatter" and "fill" work in tandem, using exaggeration to depict how the flute's melody spreads widely through the city, emphasizing the peaceful and harmonious spring night and the distant sound of the flute.
Third Line:“此夜曲中闻折柳”
(The melody I hear tonight is the song "Bending Willows," a tune known for its melancholic and sorrowful tone, often associated with farewells.)
The mention of “Bending Willows” invokes a famous farewell tune, adding a layer of emotional depth and signaling the poet’s sense of loss and homesickness.
Fourth Line:“何人不起故园情”
(Who, upon hearing this tune, would not be moved by a deep longing for their home?)
The poet concludes with a rhetorical question, universalizing his homesickness. The emotion triggered by the flute becomes a shared experience for all listeners, elevating the poet’s personal feelings to a collective human sentiment.
Writing Features
- Flute as a Central Motif
The poem revolves around the theme of "hearing the flute," building its structure around the source, melody, and the emotional reaction it evokes, with a carefully planned progression of ideas. - Imagination and Exaggeration
The sound of the flute is described as filling the entire city of Luoyang, an exaggerated but effective way to convey the powerful emotional impact of the music. Additionally, the reference to the song "Bending Willows" deepens the theme of homesickness. - Integration of Scene and Emotion
The quiet spring night, the gentle breeze, and the flute's melody combine to form a poignant image that complements the poet's homesick emotions. The interplay between the serene natural world and inner longing amplifies the poem's mood. - Concise and Deeply Emotional Language
The poem uses simple yet profound language, especially phrases like “dark flying sound” and "who can hear and not long for their homeland." These lines convey both mystery and deep emotional resonance, with a sense of profound longing hidden beneath the surface.
Overall Appreciation
"Hearing the Flute on a Spring Night in Luoyang" centers around the motif of hearing a flute in the night, weaving together visual and auditory elements to express deep emotional longing. The poet begins with the mysterious sound of the flute and follows its journey through the spring air, intensifying its emotional impact. By invoking the song "Bending Willows," the flute's sound is imbued with a sense of sadness and nostalgia, enhancing the theme of homesickness. The final rhetorical question elevates the poet’s personal longing to a universal human experience, making the emotion accessible to all. The poem is a model of emotional conciseness and vivid imagery, exemplifying Li Bai's artistic mastery.
Inspiration
This poem reflects the profound homesickness of a traveler far from home, a theme that resonates across time and cultures. It reminds us to cherish our roots and the bonds we share with our homeland. The poem also encourages us to use external elements, like nature and music, as tools to express inner emotions, blending scene and sentiment to create a lasting artistic effect.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong(许渊冲)
About the poet:
Li Bai (李白), 701 ~ 762 A.D., whose ancestral home was in Gansu, was preceded by Li Guang, a general of the Han Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the brightest constellations in the history of Chinese literature, and one of the brightest stars is Li Bai.
