While winter daylight shortens in the elemental scale
And snow and frost whiten the cold-circling night,
Stark sounds the fifth-watch with a challenge of drum and bugle.
...The stars and the River of Heaven pulse over the three mountains;
I hear women in the distance, wailing after the battle;
I see barbarian fishermen and woodcutters in the dawn.
...Sleeping-Dragon, Plunging-Horse, are no generals now, they are dust --
Hush for a moment, O tumult of the world.
Original Poem:
「阁夜」
杜甫
岁暮阴阳催短景， 天涯霜雪霁寒霄。
五更鼓角声悲壮， 三峡星河影动摇。
野哭千家闻战伐， 夷歌数处起渔樵。
卧龙跃马终黄土， 人事音书漫寂寥。
Interpretation:
This poem was composed in the winter of the first year of the Dali era of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty (766 AD), during Du Fu's exile in Kuizhou (present-day Fengjie, Chongqing), where he resided in the West Pavilion. At the time, the Sichuan region was still embroiled in war, and the people suffered greatly. Many of Du Fu's close friends, such as Zheng Qian, Li Bai, Yan Wu, and Gao Shi, had passed away one after another, leaving the poet feeling profoundly lonely and helpless. Faced with the chaos of the era, the state of the nation, and his personal circumstances, Du Fu was filled with emotion and wrote this poem to express his concerns for the country and its people.
First Couplet: "岁暮阴阳催短景，天涯霜雪霁寒宵。"
Suì mù yīn yáng cuī duǎn jǐng, tiān yá shuāng xuě jì hán xiāo.
As the year draws to a close, the interplay of yin and yang hastens the shortening of daylight; the frost and snow have cleared, leaving the cold night even more desolate.
This couplet blends scene and emotion. The poet uses "year's end" to indicate the season and "hastening the shortening of daylight" to depict the characteristic of winter days growing shorter and nights longer. Being in a distant land, the harshness of the environment mirrors the poet's inner loneliness and sorrow, setting a somber and melancholic tone for the entire poem.
Second Couplet: "五更鼓角声悲壮，三峡星河影动摇。"
Wǔ gēng gǔ jiǎo shēng bēi zhuàng, sān xiá xīng hé yǐng dòng yáo.
At the fifth watch, the sound of drums and horns is especially mournful and stirring; in the Three Gorges, the reflection of the Milky Way trembles on the rippling water.
This couplet builds on the previous lines, further depicting what the poet sees and hears during the sleepless cold night. The "mournful and stirring" sound of the horns hints at the ongoing war, creating a tense and solemn atmosphere. The "trembling reflection of the Milky Way" in the river not only describes the natural scene but also symbolizes the turbulent state of the times.
Third Couplet: "野哭千家闻战伐，夷歌数处起渔樵。"
Yě kū qiān jiā wén zhàn fá, yí gē shù chù qǐ yú qiáo.
In the wilderness, the cries of a thousand households mourning the ravages of war are heard; in a few places, the songs of fishermen and woodcutters rise, carrying a foreign melancholy.
This couplet portrays the suffering of the people caused by war. The cries of a thousand households are heart-wrenching. Although the songs of the fishermen and woodcutters do not directly express grief, they add to the desolate atmosphere, deepening the poet's inner sorrow and indignation.
Fourth Couplet: "卧龙跃马终黄土，人事音书漫寂寥。"
Wò lóng yuè mǎ zhōng huáng tǔ, rén shì yīn shū màn jì liáo.
Even the wise Zhuge Liang and the ambitious Gongsun Shu ultimately return to the yellow earth; the vicissitudes of human affairs and the silence of news only deepen my solitude.
The final couplet reflects on the poet's personal circumstances. Looking back at history, Du Fu laments that even a figure like Zhuge Liang, a renowned statesman of the ages, could not escape the inevitability of death. Life is fleeting, and the lack of news leaves the poet feeling helpless and desolate.
Overall Appreciation
This poem uses the sights and sounds of a winter night to express the poet's deep concerns for the nation and its people. Through imagery such as the fifth watch horns, the Milky Way on the river, and the cries of the people, the poem highlights the social turmoil and suffering brought by war. The final couplet contrasts the rise and fall of historical figures with the current state of the world, expressing the poet's sense of insignificance and helplessness in the face of chaos. The poem is deeply emotional, with a mournful and stirring tone that resonates powerfully.
Writing Characteristics
- Scene and Emotion Intertwined, Profound Meaning: The poet blends what he sees and hears with his inner reflections, using the scene to express emotion with deep sincerity.
- Rich Imagery, Layered Progression: From "the interplay of yin and yang" to "the sound of drums and horns," and then to "the cries of a thousand households," the poem builds layer by layer, deepening the emotional intensity.
- Vivid Contrasts, Thought-Provoking: The contrast between the loyal Zhuge Liang and the ambitious Gongsun Shu, both ultimately returning to "the yellow earth," invites reflection on the impermanence of life and the fragility of achievements.
Insights
This poem reflects Du Fu's profound sorrow for the war-torn era and his compassion for the suffering of the people. Despite his own displacement and loneliness, Du Fu remained deeply concerned for his country, demonstrating his strong sense of social responsibility. His sentiments remind us that even in difficult times, we should maintain our care for society and our commitment to justice.
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.
