Boundless grasses over the plain
Come and go with every season;
Wildfire never quite consumes them --
They are tall once more in the spring wind.
Sweet they press on the old high- road
And reach the crumbling city-gate....
O Prince of Friends, you are gone again....
I hear them sighing after you.
Original Poem:
「草」
白居易
离离原上草， 一岁一枯荣。
野火烧不尽， 春风吹又生。
远芳侵古道， 晴翠接荒城。
又送王孙去， 萋萋满别情。
Interpretation:
This poem starts with the spring grass, unique imagination, skillfully integrates the spring color in front of the eyes with the feeling of parting. Through the withering and glory of grass, stretching and tenacious vitality, the poem fully expresses the life encouragement of perseverance, tenacious struggle, and firm belief in a better life.
From the characteristics of grass with tenacious vitality writing, the grass on the field is dense, once a year withered and prosperous. Grass is an annual plant, spring and fall wither, year after year. Wildfire is inexhaustible, and spring breeze blows and grows again. It is extremely powerful, and it has become a song for the ages because it speaks a profound philosophy in a shallow language. The poet contrasts the life of wild grass with the metabolism of personnel, telling people that people with strong will and vitality of life can not be destroyed by any force. The wildfire was burnt to ashes, but once the spring breeze and rain revived.
Then, from the tenacious vitality of the green grass to come back from the dead, it is written that the spring in front of us is full of grass. In the distance, the grass is full of even the ancient road, and under the sunny day, a piece of emerald green is connected to the deserted city, writing out the spreading and expanding of the irresistible, indicating that the regeneration of green grass is more vigorous than before, and the growth is better and develops more quickly. The last point “farewell”, arranged a farewell picture: the earth back to spring, grass green ancient plains scene is so charming, and send off in such a background, that is how despondent, hard to part with him! Green grass is also humanized full of parting feelings, especially dense parade to see off the people who are far away.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Bai Juyi (白居易), 772-846 AD, was originally from Taiyuan, then moved to Weinan in Shaanxi. Bai Juyi was the most prolific poet of the Tang Dynasty, with poems in the categories of satirical oracles, idleness, sentimentality, and miscellaneous rhythms, and the most influential poet after Li Bai Du Fu.
