Slow and reluctant, I have waited
Day after day, till now I must go.
How sweet the road-side flowers might be
If they did not mean good-bye, old friend.
The Lords of the Realm are harsh to us
And men of affairs are not our kind.
I will turn back home, I will say no more,
I will close the gate of my old garden.
Original Poem
「留别王维」
孟浩然
寂寂竟何待， 朝朝空自归。
欲寻芳草去， 惜与故人违。
当路谁相假， 知音世所稀。
只应守寂寞， 还掩故园扉。
Interpretation
Composed when Meng Haoran left Chang'an after failing to secure an official position, this poem expresses both his frustration over shattered ambitions and profound attachment to his dear friend Wang Wei. Though devoid of ornate rhetoric, its plain language conveys deep emotional resonance.
First Couplet: "寂寂竟何待，朝朝空自归。"
Jìjì jìng hé dài, zhāozhāo kōng zì guī.
What remains to wait for in this solitude? Day after day I return empty-handed.
The opening lays bare the poet's despair. "Solitude" describes both his physical isolation and spiritual desolation, while "empty-handed" underscores his exhausted resignation.
Second Couplet: "欲寻芳草去，惜与故人违。"
Yù xún fāngcǎo qù, xī yǔ gùrén wéi.
I long to seek fragrant grasses elsewhere, yet regret parting from you, old friend.
This transition reveals the poet's dilemma between retreating to nature and leaving his cherished friendship, movingly capturing his emotional conflict.
Third Couplet: "当路谁相假，知音世所稀。"
Dāng lù shuí xiāng jiǎ, zhīyīn shì suǒ xī.
Who among the powerful would lend support? True friends are rare in this world.
Here Meng articulates his political frustration and precious friendship. "True friends" refers specifically to Wang Wei, deepening their emotional bond.
Fourth Couplet: "只应守寂寞，还掩故园扉。"
Zhǐ yīng shǒu jìmò, hái yǎn gùyuán fēi.
I must embrace this solitude, and close again my garden gate.
The conclusion resolves the earlier dilemma with quiet determination. The recurring "solitude" motif comes full circle as the poet chooses seclusion.
Holistic Appreciation
The poem's apparent simplicity belies its emotional depth. Meng Haoran articulates career disappointment, friendship's value, and retreat to nature with unadorned sincerity. Particularly poignant are his conflicting desires between seeking solace in nature and preserving precious friendship. Without landscape descriptions, the poem's power lies in its honest expression of personal struggle.
Artistic Merits
- Plain yet profound: Simple diction conveys complex emotions
- Structural clarity: Progresses logically from despair to resolution
- Direct expression: "What remains to wait for" confronts disappointment head-on
- Symbolic imagery: "Fragrant grasses" and "garden gate" embody retreat ideals
Insights
This poem reminds us that when facing professional setbacks, true friendship becomes most precious. Meng's eventual choice of seclusion represents not defeat but wisdom - recognizing when to withdraw and preserve one's integrity. His "closing the garden gate" symbolizes returning to fundamental values, offering timeless inspiration for maintaining inner peace amidst external disappointments.
Poem translator
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Meng Haoran (孟浩然), 689 - 740 AD, a native of Xiangyang, Hubei, was a famous poet of the Sheng Tang Dynasty. With the exception of one trip to the north when he was in his forties, when he was seeking fame in Chang'an and Luoyang, he spent most of his life in seclusion in his hometown of Lumenshan or roaming around.
