With a blue line of mountains north of the wall,
And east of the city a white curve of water,
Here you must leave me and drift away
Like a loosened water-plant hundreds of miles…
I shall think of you in a floating cloud;
So in the sunset think of me.
…We wave our hands to say good-bye,
And my horse is neighing again and again.
Original Poem:
「送友人」
李白
青山横北郭，白水绕东城。
此地一为别，孤蓬万里征。
浮云游子意，落日故人情。
挥手自兹去，萧萧班马鸣。
Interpretation:
This is a poem of farewell, which shows the poet’s deep affection for his friend through the scene of farewell.
First of all, it writes about the setting of farewell: the green mountains stretch across the north side of the citadel, and the river illuminated by sunlight surrounds the east side of the citadel. We are about to part here, and you are about to embark on a journey of ten thousand miles like a lone flying puff of grass. The metaphor of a friend as a drifting fluffy grass already shows the feeling of cherishing the friend. The concern for his friend’s wandering career fully expresses the poet’s concern for his friend’s lonely travelling life.
The white clouds in the air fluctuate, as if you are travelling without a fixed trace of the mood, the sun is about to set can not bear to sink, but also like my attachment to your feelings. We waved goodbye, from now on each go their own way, the two horses seem to know the master’s mood, can not bear to leave their companions and Xiao Xiao long sound …… horse is still unwilling to leave the group, let alone people? With such a technique to express the love and affection, it is really ingenious.
It is said that Li Bai is bold and free, but this poem is written with a lingering meaning, showing the side of the great poet’s deep love and elegance. This poem of farewell is full of poetic feelings and metaphors, which are apt and figurative. The language of the poem is natural and fluent, not exaggerated, but novel and chic, colourful, and subtle, the beauty of nature and the beauty of human beings are blended, and there is a taste in the heart.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Li Bai (李白), 701 ~ 762 A.D., whose ancestral home was in Gansu, was preceded by Li Guang, a general of the Han Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the brightest constellations in the history of Chinese literature, and one of the brightest stars is Li Bai.
