On a northern peak among white clouds
You have found your hermitage of peace;
And now, as I climb this mountain to see you,
High with the wildgeese flies my heart.
The quiet dusk might seem a little sad
If this autumn weather were not so brisk and clear;
I look down at the river bank, with homeward-bound villagers
Resting on the sand till the ferry returns;
There are trees at the horizon like a row of grasses
And against the river's rim an island like the moon
I hope that you will come and meet me, bringing a basket of wine --
And we'll celebrate together the Mountain Holiday.
Original Poem:
「秋登兰山寄张五」
孟浩然
北山白云里， 隐者自怡悦。
相望始登高， 心随雁飞灭。
愁因薄暮起， 兴是清秋发。
时见归村人， 沙行渡头歇。
天边树若荠， 江畔洲如月。
何当载酒来， 共醉重阳节。
Interpretation:
This is a poem about longing, and it is written about the feeling of climbing high and thinking of friends. The whole poem is about the feeling of climbing up to a high place and thinking of friends. The whole poem is about the feeling of following the scenery, and the scenery is about the feeling of supporting the feeling, and the two are closely connected, so that the scene is really blended and integrated. The sentiment is elegant and sincere, and the scenery is light and beautiful, making it one of the masterpieces of Meng’s poems.
Looking at each other shows the longing for Zhang Wu, and from the longing, he climbs the mountain and looks far away, looking but not seeing his friend, but seeing the geese flying south. The poet’s heart also flies away with the geese, fading into the distant sky. This is the writing and lyricism, the scene is blended. The geese can not be seen, and nearly dusk, the heart can not help but rise faint sadness. However, the color of the mountains in autumn is refreshing.
Looking around from the mountain, the day to twilight, the village people labor for a day, three or two gradually return. Some of them are walking on the beach, some of them are sitting on the ferry, showing a calm and relaxed look, with a little bit of leisure. And then look into the distance, has been to see “the edge of the sky”, the trees on the edge of the day look as thin as a caper, and the white sandbar, in the haze of dusk but clearly visible, as if covered with a layer of moonlight.
The author created a lofty and secluded realm here, especially in the first four sentences neither focus on portraying the actions of the characters, nor focus on describing the scenery, but with simple language, as written, plain and natural, showing the quiet of the countryside and the beauty of the natural world.
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.
