Only to wanderers can come
Ever new the shock of beauty,
Of white cloud and red cloud dawning from the sea,
Of spring in the wild-plum and river-willow.
I watch a yellow oriole dart in the warm air,
And a green water-plant reflected by the sun.
Original Poem:
「和晋陵陆丞早春游望」
杜牧
独有宦游人，偏惊物候新。
云霞出海曙，梅柳渡江春。
淑气催黄鸟，晴光转绿苹。
忽闻歌古调，归思欲沾襟。
Interpretation:
This poem by Du Shenyan was written around the time of the author’s posting in Jiangyin County, when he was traveling with him. The poem is inspired by his spring trip and expresses his disillusionment and misfortune of traveling to another country.
The first two lines of the poem strongly express the fact that eunuchs are particularly sensitive to changes in climate and scenery because they live in a foreign land. In the morning, a red sun rises from the sea, creating a bright and brilliant haze on the surface of the sea; the spring breeze blows, and the willows in the south and north of the river put on new clothes. The coming of spring and warm weather seemed to urge the oriole to chirp politely; the clear daylight seemed to turn the color of the apple grass more tender and green.
Then it seems to write only about the bright and lovely spring light. In fact, it wants to express that the spring light is beautiful, but it is a great irony for people in the midst of misfortune.
This poem follows the title and uses the technique of beginning and ending very well, showing the very high artistry of proximity poetry.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Du Shenyan(杜审言) was Du Fu‘s grandfather, 646-708 A.D. A native of Xiangyang, Hubei Province, Du Shenyan was convicted in 705 A.D. for befriending the fortunate minister Zhang Yi Zhi, and was exiled to the state of Fengzhou. Soon afterward, he rose again to become the chief bookkeeper of the State Scholarship Academy and a straight bachelor of the Xiuwenkan.
