From dusk to dawn the painted drums resound;
Time knows but to hurry men to their ground.
Seize shallow joys when shines the sun!
Sing in chorus with everyone
The divine tune of Fisherman’s Pride begun.
Green water long, long as the sky;
How can fleeting life forever young lie?
Don’t grudge your drunken laughter open wide!
Believe it true:
When will the world’s affairs ever subside?
Original Poem
「渔家傲 · 画鼓声中昏又晓」
画鼓声中昏又晓。
时光只解催人老。
求得浅欢风日好。
齐揭调。
神仙一曲渔家傲。绿水悠悠天杳杳。
晏殊
浮生岂得长年少。
莫惜醉来开口笑。
须信道。
人间万事何时了。
Interpretation
This lyric, titled "Fisherman’s Pride," employs a folk melody to express the poet's philosophical reflections on life. Written in a lively rhythm tinged with wistfulness, it conveys both resignation to time's passage and a carpe diem philosophy. Likely composed during leisure or banquet, the poem wraps profound meditations on life's transience within scenes of carefree joy—exemplifying the Song ci's characteristic "joy laced with melancholy" aesthetic.
First Stanza: "画鼓声中昏又晓。时光只解催人老。求得浅欢风日好。齐揭调。神仙一曲渔家傲。"
Huà gǔ shēng zhōng hūn yòu xiǎo. Shíguāng zhǐ jiě cuī rén lǎo. Qiú dé qiǎn huān fēng rì hǎo. Qí jiē diào. Shénxiān yī qǔ yújiā ào.
Amid painted drums' rhythm, dusk turns to dawn again. / Time knows only to hasten our decay. / I'll take these modest joys while fair winds blow— / Together we raise our voices / In this divine tune, "Pride of the Fisherman."
The stanza opens with festive drums marking time's relentless flow, contrasting merrymaking with aging's inevitability. "Modest joys" and "fair winds" reveal the poet's ethos—cherishing small pleasures amidst life's impermanence. The collective singing of this folk tune transforms earthly revelry into transcendent experience.
Second Stanza: "绿水悠悠天杳杳。浮生岂得长年少。莫惜醉来开口笑。须信道。人间万事何时了。"
Lǜ shuǐ yōuyōu tiān yǎoyǎo. Fúshēng qǐ dé cháng niánshào. Mò xī zuì lái kāikǒu xiào. Xū xìndào. Rénjiān wànshì hé shí liǎo.
Emerald waters stretch endlessly, heavens fade to void— / How can this floating life keep youth's bright hue? / Never regret drunken laughter! Hold this truth: / When will the world's affairs / Ever come to conclusion?
Shifting to nature's vastness, the poem juxtaposes eternity ("endless waters") with human ephemerality. The counsel to embrace drunken mirth reflects hard-won wisdom—recognizing life's endless troubles while choosing deliberate joy. The rhetorical question underscores the futility of worldly attachments.
Holistic Appreciation
This work wraps its contemplation of life in a cheerful melody, embodying the philosophy of "seize the day." The first stanza begins with the "sound of painted drums," describing the transition from dusk to dawn, where the fleeting passage of time evokes the lament that "time only hastens aging." Yet the poet does not wallow in sorrow; instead, he advocates cherishing "fair winds and sunshine," seeking modest joys, and singing a "Fisherman’s Pride" to amuse and console himself. The second stanza deepens the emotional layers, using "endless green waters" and "distant skies" to depict life’s vast uncertainty, followed by phrases like "fleeting life" and "drunken laughter," expressing a carpe-diem attitude and composed acceptance of the world. With a tone that seems light yet carries profound insight, the poet reflects on life’s irresolvable troubles and restless hearts, ultimately pointing to a wise and enlightened outlook.
Artistic Merits
The poem’s language is simple and sincere, employing vivid imagery and musical motifs to weave philosophical reflections into lighthearted verses. The first stanza creates a festive atmosphere with dynamic scenes, while the second evokes melancholy through stillness—a contrast that sharpens the poem’s layered depth. The diction is plain yet not shallow; the artistic conception is lofty, subtly revealing the theme of "life is but a dream." The concluding line, "When will the world’s endless affairs ever cease?" is particularly striking, expanding the poem’s scope from the personal to the universal, elevating momentary joy to philosophical meditation on life’s chaos.
Insights
The poem’s deepest lesson lies in this: Time rushes by, leaving no room for hesitation. Since life is fleeting and youth slips away, why not drink lightly under clear skies and bright sun, laughing at life’s twists? The world’s troubles are endless, so why not claim a sliver of joy in our limited time to console ourselves? This attitude—enlightened yet clear-eyed, reflective yet free-spirited—is the poet’s resonant wisdom for posterity.
Poem Translator
Xu Yuanchong (许渊冲)
About the Poet
Yan Shu (晏殊 991 – 1055) Originaire de Fuzhou dans le Jiangxi, Yan Shu fut le maître fondateur de l'école wanyue (élégante et retenue) de la poésie ci sous les Song du Nord. Enfant prodige entré dans l'administration à quatorze ans, ses ci allient noblesse classique et méditation philosophique dissimulée sous des évocations de prospérité raffinée. Mentor de talents comme Fan Zhongyan et Ouyang Xiu, il initia l'École du Jiangxi en poésie ci et posa les bases de l'épuration du genre sous les Song.
