Even in this good reign, how can I serve?
The lone cloud rather, the Buddhist peace....
Once more, before crossing river and sea,
I face the great Emperor's mountain-tomb.
Original Poem:
「将赴吴兴登乐游原」
杜牧
清时有味是无能，闲爱孤云静爱僧。
欲把一麾江海去，乐游原上望昭陵。
Interpretation:
This poem was written in 850 A.D. when the poet was about to leave Chang’an to take up the post of assassin of Huzhou.
The poet begins with the statement that he is contented with the status quo, not only calling it a “clear time”, but also saying that he has no talent, so it is a good opportunity for him to spend his time in idleness.
The second line follows, the poet with love lonely clouds of leisure and show their own leisure, love the monk’s quiet and show their own quiet, so that the invisible flavor of leisure and quiet image highlighted.
In the third line, according to the official system of the Han Dynasty, the county magistrate had one car and two streamers, and the Tang Dynasty assassin was equivalent to the Han magistrate. The meaning is that he is idle and bored in the capital, why don’t he hold the flag in his hand and go away from the capital to guard one side.
The fourth line and then a turn, the ancients away from the capital often more nostalgic, but the poet boarded the Leyouyuan, do not look at the palace, the city, and do not look at the other mausoleums, but only look at the mausoleum of Zhaoling, can be seen to have another deep meaning. Tang Taizong laid the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, civil and military achievements, are very prominent; only recommended by the wise, know how to make the best use of people, and more admired by the people. The author climbed high, west view of the mausoleum, had to think of the decline of the country and their own idle situation to, the feeling of life is not the right time naturally came to mind.
Although the whole poem from the Leyouyuan rise, touch to look at the mausoleum but suddenly stopped, no more words, but the poet’s worry about the country, the nostalgia for the prosperous world, to their own inability to show their aspirations of life’s anguish, and so on, all inclusive of which, written in simple words and deep meaning, people recall a long time.
About the poet:
Du Mu (杜牧), 803-853 AD, was a native of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Among the poets of the Late Tang Dynasty, he was one of those who had his own characteristics, and later people called Li Shangyin and Du Mu as “Little Li and Du”. His poems are bright and colorful.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
