Ten thousand miles south you’ll roam,
In Jiaozhou see willow strands.
New friends will greet you far from home—
Time’s grief drowned in wine-filled hands.
At dawn, blue gulls ride waves so free;
Warm winds let sable coats untie.
If gold runs short, don’t long to flee—
Your heart’s horizon’s the sky!
Original Poem
「送人游岭南」
司空曙
万里南游客，交州见柳条。
逢迎人易合，时日酒能消。
浪晓浮青雀，风温解黑貂。
囊金如未足，莫恨故乡遥。
Interpretation
Composed during Sikong Shu's official travels in the mid-Tang era, this poem likely accompanied a friend's departure for Lingnan—a region then regarded as a remote frontier, yet one possessing exotic beauty and abundance. Through delicate imagery, the poet transforms this perceived exile into a landscape of warmth and possibility, offering solace through shared observation and quiet empathy.
First Couplet: "万里南游客，交州见柳条。"
Wàn lǐ nán yóu kè, Jiāozhōu jiàn liǔ tiáo.
A traveler of ten thousand miles south— / Now in Jiaozhou, you greet willow tendrils.
The opening magnifies the journey's scale ("ten thousand miles") only to soften it with the intimate "willow tendrils"—symbols of spring's resilience and continuity. This juxtaposition reframes the destination not as exile but as a place where familiar signs of life persist.
Second Couplet: "逢迎人易合，时日酒能消。"
Féng yíng rén yì hé, shí rì jiǔ néng xiāo.
Here, hosts meet you with ready warmth, / And days dissolve in shared libations.
This couplet humanizes the unfamiliar. "Ready warmth" (易合) suggests an innate hospitality that eases displacement, while "days dissolve" (时日消) portrays time not as something to endure but to savor—a subtle recalibration of the sojourner's perspective.
Third Couplet: "浪晓浮青雀，风温解黑貂。"
Làng xiǎo fú qīng què, fēng wēn jiě hēi diāo.
Dawn waves cradle azure skiffs, / Balmy winds shed northern sable.
The poet's gaze turns to Lingnan's sensual pleasures: the "azure skiffs" (青雀, kingfisher-hued boats) dancing on morning waters, and the climatic reprieve allowing removal of heavy furs. These tactile details—the play of light, the relief of warmth—become metaphors for psychological unburdening.
Fourth Couplet: "囊金如未足，莫恨故乡遥。"
Náng jīn rú wèi zú, mò hèn gùxiāng yáo.
Should your purse lighten, grieve not / The growing span from homeland.
The conclusion delivers its counsel with gentle directness. Material lack ("purse lighten") is acknowledged but dismissed as secondary to experiential wealth. The imperative "grieve not" (莫恨) transforms advice into a quiet act of solidarity—a poet's gift more sustaining than gold.
Holistic Appreciation
This poem carries a gentle and sincere tone, blending the exotic landscapes of distant Lingnan with the poet's heartfelt concern and blessings for his friend. Using a technique that moves from far to near and from external to internal, it seamlessly intertwines scenic descriptions with emotional expression. With his characteristic delicate and graceful brushstrokes, the poet depicts the sights of the journey, transforming the remote and seemingly desolate Lingnan into a place of comfort and contentment. Though a farewell poem, it avoids excessive sorrow, instead exuding composure, openness, and understanding—embodying the "quiet and understated" sentiment characteristic of Sikong Shu's poetic style.
Artistic Merits
This poem exemplifies the quintessential five-character regulated verse (五律), with impeccable tonal patterns and concise language. Sikong Shu excels at using concrete imagery to convey abstract emotions, linking space, time, and mood through motifs such as willow branches, farewell banquets, green sparrows, and black sable furs. This creates a harmonious fusion of scene and sentiment, with clear and distinct layers. Additionally, phrases like "dawn waves" (浪晓), "warm breeze" (风温), and "gold-filled pouch" (囊金) are simple yet vivid, showcasing his serene and refreshing linguistic style.
Insights
Life's journeys inevitably involve partings, but what matters is finding new connections, passion, and a sense of belonging in unfamiliar places. This poem is not merely a farewell to a friend but also reflects an ideal state in human relationships—one of understanding and consolation. As the poet suggests, even in material scarcity, one should embrace an open-hearted perspective and savor the beauty of life. In today's fast-paced and emotionally detached society, such warmth of feeling and broad-minded outlook is especially precious.
About the poet
Sikong Shu (司空曙), c. 720 – c. 790, courtesy name Wenming, was a native of Guangping (present-day Yongnian County, Hebei Province). A renowned mid-Tang dynasty poet, he was one of the "Ten Literary Masters of the Dali Era," alongside Lu Lun, Qian Qi, Han Hong, Li Duan, and others. Though his life lacked illustrious achievements, his poetry—marked by genuine emotion in simplicity and profound contemplation in solitude—secured him a unique place in mid-Tang literary circles.
