The steed from the barbaric west
Has angular frame and strong chest.
Like pointed bamboo its sharp ear,
As swift wind its fleet hoofs, O hear!
The way it runs will never end;
Life or death on it may depend.
When you have such a fiery steed,
You can ride where you will indeed.
Original Poem:
「房兵曹胡马」
杜甫
胡马大宛名，锋棱瘦骨成。
竹批双耳峻，风入四蹄轻。
所向无空阔，真堪托死生。
骁腾有如此，万里可横行。
Interpretation:
This poem was written in 740 or 741 AD, during Du Fu's time in Luoyang, when he was still a young man traveling through the Qi and Zhao regions. At this time, Du Fu was in the prime of his youth, filled with ambition and determination. The poem reflects his aspirations to achieve greatness and contribute to the country. Through the depiction of a horse, Du Fu expresses his yearning for heroism and his ambitions to accomplish something meaningful for the nation.
First Couplet:“胡马大宛名，锋棱瘦骨成。”
(The horses from Dayuan are renowned for their sharp bones, thin but strong.)
These lines describe the horses from Dayuan, noting their sharp, slender bones that are nonetheless incredibly strong, highlighting their extraordinary qualities. The phrase “锋棱瘦骨” (sharp-edged thin bones) vividly portrays the horse's physical strength and unique spirit, conveying a sense of heroism and power.
Second Couplet:“竹批双耳峻，风入四蹄轻。”
(Its ears are sharp and upright, like bamboo, and the wind gently flows through its hooves.)
In these lines, the poet uses verbs like "竹批" (shaped like bamboo) and "风入" (wind flows through) to delicately describe the horse's sharp, upright ears and the lightness of its hooves as it gallops. Through vivid metaphors and detailed descriptions, the poet presents the horse's agility and vitality.
Third Couplet:“所向无空阔，真堪托死生。”
(Wherever it goes, there is no open space; it is truly capable of bearing the weight of life and death.)
These lines symbolize the horse's courage and resilience. Its strength enables it to overcome any obstacle, showcasing its fearless spirit and combat readiness. The horse not only represents heroism but also embodies the poet’s own ideals, reflecting his determination to achieve great things.
Fourth Couplet:“骁腾有如此，万里可横行。”
(With such a brave and mighty horse, it could travel ten thousand miles without hindrance.)
The final line affirms the horse's abilities and expresses the poet’s aspirations for heroism. By describing the horse’s capacity to travel great distances, Du Fu conveys his desire to achieve great feats and contribute to the nation, symbolizing his hope to make a mark on the world.
Writing Features:
Du Fu employs delicate and vivid descriptions, using striking words like “锋棱瘦骨” and “竹批双耳” to illustrate the horse’s bravery and boundless energy. Through these descriptions of the horse, the poet subtly incorporates his own ambitions and emotions, expressing both the horse’s courage and the poet’s pursuit of his own ideal goals.
Overall Appreciation:
This poem is not just an ode to the horse but also a reflection of the poet’s aspirations and ideals. Du Fu uses the horse to display his ambitions, with the horse’s bravery and vitality symbolizing the poet’s own hopes for the future. The structure of the poem is concise yet powerful, blending objectivity with personal emotion. By extolling the horse’s qualities, Du Fu effectively conveys his personal ideals and the spirit of heroism, offering a stirring encouragement.
Insights:
This poem uses the horse as a metaphor to express personal ambition and ideals, reminding us that in the pursuit of our dreams, we must possess fearless courage and unwavering determination. Through Du Fu’s poem, we not only see a magnificent horse but also feel a spirit of striving forward for one’s country and future. This spirit encourages us to face challenges bravely and pursue our own dreams and goals with resolute determination.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
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.
