This is where your comrade must leave you,
Turning at the foot of these purple mountains...
When shall we lift our cups again, I wonder,
As we did last night and walk in the moon?
The region is murmuring farewell
To one who was honoured through three reigns;
And back I go now to my river-village,
Into the final solitude.
Original Poem:
「奉济驿重送严公四韵」
杜甫
远送从此别，青山空复情。
几时杯重把，昨夜月同行。
列郡讴歌惜，三朝出入荣。
将村独归处，寂寞养残生。
Interpretation:
In December, 759 AD, Du Fu arrived in Chengdu. Two years later, Yan Wu was appointed as the governor of Jiannan as well as the governor of Chengdu. Dufu stayed at the Cao Tang (草堂) on the banks of the Raccoon River (浣花溪), where he was taken care of by Yan Wu in many ways. In 762 A.D., after the death of Emperor Su Zong, Emperor Dai Zong was established, and Yan Wu was appointed to join the court and moved to be the governor of Jingzhao. This poem was written to bid farewell to Yan Wu.
The poem was written to send Yan Wu off. The poet sends Yan Wu from Chengdu to Feng Ji stage two or three hundred miles away, the endless words of love had to stop, goodbye; roadside green hills remain, see off the pedestrians, and their own hearts suddenly feel melancholy and empty. The poet borrowed the mountains of love and people can not bear to say goodbye and had to say goodbye as a contrast, showing the deep love for friends.
Last night under the moon, we raised our glasses to say goodbye and talk about our friendship, and I don’t know when we can meet again in the future to re-take the cup and drink again. With a question, both ask yourself, but also ask friends, in the social upheaval of life’s unpredictable destiny of the complex mood is fully displayed.
Next is the praise of Yan Wu’s political achievements. Said he in xuanzong, suzong, daizong three dynasties as an official, or guard outside the county or into the court, are honored in high positions, now leaving the east and west two rivers, people around the people are to stay in eulogy, do not want to leave him.
Finally, I wrote my own state of mind after sending off. Jiangcun, refers to Chengdu Rumphouse Stream by the grassy hall, meaning that they return to Jiangcun alone, only lonely and unsupported to raise the rest of his life, Yan Wu left the poet’s life after the miserable and sad mood expressed.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
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.
