While the autumn moon is pouring full
On a thousand night-levels among towns and villages,
There meet by chance, south of the river,
Dreaming doubters of a dream....
In the trees a wind has startled the birds,
And insects cower from cold in the grass;
But wayfarers at least have wine
And nothing to fear -- till the morning bell.
Original Poem:
「江乡故人偶集客舍」
戴叔伦
天秋月又满， 城阙夜千重。
还作江南会， 翻疑梦里逢。
风枝惊暗鹊， 露草覆寒虫。
羁旅长堪醉， 相留畏晓钟。
Interpretation:
This poem depicts the poet’s chance reunion with a fellow countryman during his travels. On an autumn night with a full moon, the foreign city stands in layers under the night sky. The poet and his old friend meet unexpectedly, overwhelmed with joy, as if in a dream. However, the autumn night also carries a sense of desolation—the wind stirs the branches, startling the resting magpies; dew moistens the grass, while cold insects chirp mournfully. This gathering is brief yet precious, and the friends immerse themselves in wine, fearing that the morning bells will soon ring, signaling yet another separation. Through the intertwining of joy in reunion and sorrow in wandering, the poet conveys the deep homesickness of a traveler and the profound affection for his old friend.
First Couplet: "天秋月又满，城阙夜千重。"
tiān qiū yuè yòu mǎn, chéng què yè qiān chóng.
On an autumn night, the sky is filled with a bright full moon, and the city walls stand in layered shadows under the night.
The poem opens with a scenic depiction, setting the season and atmosphere. "天秋" (autumn sky) evokes the chilly melancholy of autumn, while "月又满" (the moon is full again) suggests a sense of reunion. The poet, gazing from a high vantage point, sees the distant city walls fading into the layers of night, creating a profound and far-reaching impression. This scene not only captures the beauty of the autumn night but also reflects the poet’s loneliness in a foreign land.
Second Couplet: "还作江南会，翻疑梦里逢。"
huán zuò jiāng nán huì, fān yí mèng lǐ féng.
To meet again in a foreign land is so unexpected that it feels like a dream.
The poet expresses his astonishment at encountering an old friend so far from home, a moment so surreal that it seems like a dream. This sudden reunion momentarily suspends his disbelief, highlighting the rare warmth found in a life of wandering. By likening reality to a dream, the poet enhances the poem’s emotional depth and emphasizes the preciousness of human connections despite the distances that separate them.
Third Couplet: "风枝惊暗鹊，露草覆寒虫。"
fēng zhī jīng àn què, lù cǎo fù hán chóng.
The autumn wind stirs the branches, startling the resting magpies; the dewdrops dampen the grass, where cold insects chirp mournfully.
This couplet shifts the focus from the indoor reunion to the desolate autumn night outside, creating an atmosphere of loneliness. The image of "惊暗鹊" (startled magpies) subtly references Cao Cao’s Short Song Style with the line "The magpies fly south, but have no branch to rest upon," symbolizing the poet’s own rootless wandering. The faint chirping of cold insects amid the dew-covered grass deepens the sense of solitude. Through this chilling autumn imagery, the poet conveys his homesickness and the transient nature of companionship.
Fourth Couplet: "羁旅长堪醉，相留畏晓钟。"
jī lǚ cháng kān zuì, xiāng liú wèi xiǎo zhōng.
A life of wandering makes one long for intoxication, fearing that the morning bell will soon break this fleeting reunion.
The final couplet reveals the poem’s central sentiment: in the uncertainty of travel, people turn to wine to momentarily escape their sorrow and prolong their cherished moments together. Yet the sound of the morning bell signals the inevitable separation, making the poet’s reluctance to part even more poignant. The poem concludes with the contrast between joyful reunion and the sadness of impending departure, leaving a deep emotional impact.
Overall Appreciation
This poem revolves around the theme of an unexpected reunion in a foreign land, balancing the joy of meeting with the sorrow of wandering. The first two couplets capture the delight of reunion, while the latter two shift toward the coldness of the autumn night and the sorrow of impending separation, creating a distinct emotional progression. The poet intricately weaves personal emotions with natural scenery, enhancing the sense of nostalgia and longing. This skillful interplay between external imagery and inner sentiment makes the poem deeply moving and allows the reader to resonate with the poet’s complex feelings.
Writing Techniques
- Blending Emotion with Scenery: The use of night, autumn wind, and cold insects evokes the sorrow of wandering, intensifying the poem’s emotional depth.
- Interweaving Reality and Illusion: The phrase "翻疑梦里逢" (as if meeting in a dream) highlights the rarity of such reunions, lending the poem a dreamlike quality.
- Subtle Allusions and Symbolism: The reference to "startled magpies" subtly alludes to Short Song Style, reinforcing the theme of rootlessness.
- Layered Emotional Progression: The poem moves from joy to melancholy, mirroring the poet’s emotional journey and making the sentiment more profound.
Insights
This poem not only captures the joy of an unexpected reunion but also profoundly expresses the homesickness and longing for companionship felt by a traveler. In life, meetings and partings are inevitable, making human connections all the more precious. The poet, through a few short lines, encapsulates the sorrow of separation and the fleeting nature of joyful moments, reminding us to cherish those around us and to value each reunion as a rare and treasured gift.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the Poet:
Dai Shulun (戴叔伦), 732 - 789 AD, was a native of Jintan, Jiangsu Province. During the Anshi Rebellion, he lived in Poyang and studied behind closed doors, and was later recruited by Liu Yan to serve in the Transit House. Dai Shulun's poems mostly express the leisure of a secluded life, and there are also some poems exposing social contradictions and reflecting the people's hardships, with a broader content, and his poetic style is elegant and clear.
