Waterside reeds are covered with hoarfrost at night;
The green mountains are drowned in the cold blue moonlight.
Who says a thousand miles will separate us today?
My dream will follow you though you are far away.
Original Poem:
「送友人」
薛涛
水国蒹葭夜有霜，月寒山色共苍苍。
谁言千里自今夕，离梦杳如关塞长。
Interpretation:
This poem is one of the farewell poems written by the Tang dynasty poet Xue Tao. With delicate strokes, she portrays the complex emotions of parting, combining the sorrow of separation with comfort for her friend. Through the use of imagery from the Book of Songs (Jianjia) and clever linguistic layers, Xue Tao brings the farewell scene and her deep inner emotions to life.
First Couplet: "水国蒹葭夜有霜，月寒山色共苍苍。"
(At night in the waterland, the reed grass is covered with frost, the moonlight is cold, and the mountain color blends with the vast, gloomy night.)
These lines describe the desolate and cold atmosphere of the autumn night. The imagery of the reed grass, moonlight, and mountains merging together creates a lonely ambiance, hinting at the emotional chill and weight of thoughts brought by parting.
Second Couplet: "谁言千里自今夕，离梦杳如关塞长。"
(Who says a thousand miles start from this evening? The dreams of our reunion have already faded like the distant borders.)
Through a rhetorical question, these lines express the poet’s deep regret about the seemingly indefinite future of their reunion. The separation not only makes physical distance unbearable but even the dreams of meeting become increasingly distant, escalating the feelings of helplessness and pain.
Writing Features
- Allusion and Implication
The poet skillfully alludes to the imagery in the Book of Songs’ Jianjia, where "the reed grass is grey and the white dew becomes frost," drawing on the themes of autumn and separation. This reference adds a deeper cultural context and emotional implication to the poem. The use of allusion enriches the poem's meaning and depth. - Layered Emotional Progression
The first two lines set the emotional tone with descriptive scenery, conveying the feelings of departure. In the third and fourth lines, through rhetorical questions and metaphors, the poet expresses inner pain and regret. The emotional development shifts from sorrow to a sense of resignation and then back to sorrow, creating a striking contrast that deepens the emotional layers of the poem. - Subtle and Indirect Expression
The poem never directly states the pain of parting; instead, it gradually reveals the poet's emotions through the progression of scenery and poetic imagery. Especially with the phrase "离梦杳如关塞长" ("the dreams of reunion fade like distant borders"), the distant imagery of borders emphasizes the hopelessness and solitude after the separation. This indirect style of expression makes the poem’s emotions more evocative and profound. - Symbolic Meaning of Natural Imagery
The natural images of "reed grass," "frost," "cold moon," and "mountain color" are not merely descriptions of the external environment; they correspond to the poet's inner emotions and become symbols of those emotions. Through these elements, the poet conveys the pain of parting and the deep longing for the friend.
Overall Appreciation
The poem has a tightly structured framework with emotions unfolding gradually. On the surface, it presents natural scenes, but these scenes mirror the emotional fluctuations within the poet's heart. By skillfully blending scenery and emotions, the poet expresses both the sorrow of separation and the profound feelings hidden between the lines. The deep emotional expression and indirect writing style make this poem a classic in the genre of farewell poetry.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Bai Juyi (白居易), 772-846 AD, was originally from Taiyuan, then moved to Weinan in Shaanxi. Bai Juyi was the most prolific poet of the Tang Dynasty, with poems in the categories of satirical oracles, idleness, sentimentality, and miscellaneous rhythms, and the most influential poet after Li Bai Du Fu.
