A hero may shed tears,
Not when parting with peers.
Sword in hand, he drinks wine,
Unlike roamers who pine.
When bitten by the snake,
He would have his wrist break.
With his career at heart,
He won't regret to part.
Original Poem
「别离」
陆龟蒙
丈夫非无泪，不洒离别间。
杖剑对尊酒，耻为游子颜。
蝮蛇一螫手，壮士即解腕。
所志在功名，离别何足叹。
Interpretation
"Parting" is a five-character regulated verse that embodies masculine resolve. Lu Guimeng crafts an archetype of stoic heroism through a departure scene, deliberately rejecting the tearful sentimentality typical of separation poetry. With rhetorical vigor and unflinching tone, the poem forges an image of an ambitious warrior who transcends emotional fragility in pursuit of glory.
First Couplet: "丈夫非无泪，不洒离别间。"
Zhàngfū fēi wú lèi, bù sǎ líbié jiān.
A true man's eyes aren't dry of tears— Yet none shall fall when parting nears.
The poem opens with a declarative negation, dismantling clichés of farewell grief. The admission of latent tears ("aren't dry") humanizes the hero, while their suppression ("none shall fall") establishes his ironclad ethos. This dialectic between feeling and discipline sets the thematic cornerstone.
Second Couplet: "杖剑对尊酒，耻为游子颜。"
Zhàng jiàn duì zūn jiǔ, chǐ wéi yóuzǐ yán.
Sword in hand, he toasts with wine— Ashamed to wear a wanderer's sign.
Here, props become emblems: the sword symbolizes martial resolve, the wine cup ceremonial dignity. "Wanderer's sign" (游子颜) refers to the traditional pallor of melancholy travelers—a countenance this hero disdains as unworthy of his purpose. The couplet's parallelism merges action and principle.
Third Couplet: "蝮蛇一螫手，壮士即解腕。"
Fùshé yī shì shǒu, zhuàngshì jí jiě wàn.
Viper's bite? The warrior's creed— Sever the limb with lightning speed.
This visceral metaphor, drawn from the idiom "sacrifice the limb to save the body," crystallizes the poem's philosophy of radical decisiveness. The abrupt syntax mirrors the very immediacy it extols—no deliberation, only irrevocable action. Blood becomes ink in this calligraphic manifesto of will.
Fourth Couplet: "所志在功名，离别何足叹。"
Suǒ zhì zài gōngmíng, líbié hé zú tàn.
His gaze fixed on fame's design— What room for sighs at parting's line?
The finale elevates purpose above pathos. "Fame's design" (功名) isn't mere vanity but the Confucian ideal of achieving merit through service. The rhetorical question dismisses sentimental attachments as distractions from destiny's call—a warrior's calculus where emotions yield to ambition.
Artistic Merits
The poem primarily employs discursive argumentation, seamlessly blending reason and emotion through concise yet vigorous language and powerfully masculine imagery. It portrays the resolute determination expected of men during farewells. Through vivid scenes like "raising my sword to this farewell wine" and metaphors such as "when a viper bites one's hand, the brave man severs his wrist," the poet creates a heroic figure who spurns tears in parting, focusing instead on achieving merit. This breaks from the conventional tender sentimentality of traditional farewell poetry. With its rigorous structure, dynamic rhythm, and restrained yet impassioned emotion, the work highlights the noble character and ideals of true manhood, achieving remarkable artistic power and spiritual elevation.
Holistic Appreciation
This poem transcends the traditional soft melancholy of farewell verse through its heroic, impassioned language, instead demonstrating masculine fortitude and moral conviction in parting. Rather than depicting tears and sorrow, the poet presents an upright heroic figure looking steadfastly toward distant ambitions. The thematic focus on "achieving merit" and the metaphorical "severing the wrist" embody profound philosophical strength, reflecting scholars' resolute attitude when facing choices between reality and ideals. More than personal expression, the poem mirrors literati's profound experience of the conflict between ideals and reality in its historical context, standing as a masterpiece of farewell poetry brimming with vigorous spirit.
Insights
This poem teaches us that while true men may harbor deep emotions inwardly, they must maintain steadfast courage when facing separation and adversity. Life inevitably brings partings and challenges, and only by pursuing lofty goals can one transcend immediate sorrows and demonstrate heroic fearlessness. This spirit remains inspiring for modern individuals confronting life's difficulties and choices, reminding us to uphold our convictions and advance bravely.
Poem translator
Xu Yuanchong (许渊冲)
About the poet
Lu Guimeng (陆龟蒙), ? - 881 A.D., Tang Dynasty agronomist and literary scholar, native of Wu County, Jiangsu Province. He was a member of the staff of the assassins of Huzhou and Suzhou, and later lived in seclusion in Fuli, Songjiang, and his poems are mostly about scenery and objects.
