I am only an old woodsman, whispering a sob,
As I steal like a spring-shadow down the Winding River.
...Since the palaces ashore are sealed by a thousand gates --
Fine willows, new rushes, for whom are you so green?
...I remember a cloud of flags that came from the South Garden,
And ten thousand colours, heightening one another,
And the Kingdom's first Lady, from the Palace of the Bright Sun,
Attendant on the Emperor in his royal chariot,
And the horsemen before them, each with bow and arrows,
And the snowy horses, champing at bits of yellow gold,
And an archer, breast skyward, shooting through the clouds
And felling with one dart a pair of flying birds.
...Where are those perfect eyes, where are those pearly teeth?
A blood-stained spirit has no home, has nowhere to return.
And clear Wei waters running east, through the cleft on Dagger- Tower Trail,
Carry neither there nor here any news of her.
People, compassionate, are wishing with tears
That she were as eternal as the river and the flowers.
...Mounted Tartars, in the yellow twilight, cloud the town with dust.
I am fleeing south, but I linger-gazing northward toward the throne.
Original Poem:
「宿府」
杜甫
清秋幕府井梧寒， 独宿江城蜡炬残。
永夜角声悲自语， 中天月色好谁看？
风尘荏苒音书绝， 关塞萧条行陆难。
已忍伶俜十年事， 强移栖息一枝安。
Interpretation:
This poem was composed in the second year of the Guangde era of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty (764 AD). At the time, Du Fu served as an advisor in Yan Wu's military headquarters, but due to internal suspicion and exclusion, as well as his complicated feelings toward Yan Wu, Du Fu felt oppressed and embarrassed. Although he had secured an official position with Yan Wu's help, he remained unable to escape his difficult circumstances and inner loneliness. The poem reveals his dissatisfaction with his current situation and his sense of helplessness about the future, showcasing his loneliness amidst adversity.
First Couplet: "清秋幕府井梧寒，独宿江城蜡炬残。"
Qīng qiū mù fǔ jǐng wú hán, dú sù jiāng chéng là jù cán.
In the clear autumn, the headquarters is cold, and the wellside parasol tree chills the air; alone in the riverside city, the candle has burned to its end.
The poet uses "clear autumn" to set the season, reflecting a lonely and cold environment. "Alone" highlights Du Fu's isolation and helplessness within the headquarters, while "the candle has burned to its end" symbolizes his endless loneliness and the chill in his heart.
Second Couplet: "永夜角声悲自语，中庭月色好谁看？"
Yǒng yè jiǎo shēng bēi zì yǔ, zhōng tíng yuè sè hǎo shuí kàn?
Through the long night, the mournful sound of the horn seems to lament to itself; the bright moonlight in the courtyard is beautiful, but who is there to admire it?
This couplet uses the imagery of the horn's mournful sound and the unappreciated moonlight to emphasize the poet's loneliness and helplessness. The sorrow of the horn and the unshared moonlight intertwine, revealing the poet's isolated and helpless inner world.
Third Couplet: "风尘荏苒音书绝，关塞萧条行路难。"
Fēng chén rěn rǎn yīn shū jué, guān sài xiāo tiáo xíng lù nán.
Time passes swiftly, and letters from home have ceased; the frontier is desolate, and the journey home is difficult.
In this couplet, "time passes swiftly" depicts the passage of time, while "letters from home have ceased" reflects the poet's pain over losing contact with his family. The desolation of the frontier and the difficulty of the journey home highlight his difficult circumstances and sense of hopelessness amidst the turmoil.
Fourth Couplet: "已忍伶俜十年事，强移栖息一枝安。"
Yǐ rěn líng pīng shí nián shì, qiáng yí qī xī yī zhī ān.
I have endured ten years of loneliness and hardship; now, I barely find a branch to rest on, seeking temporary peace.
In this couplet, the poet uses "伶俜" to describe his long years of hardship. Working in Yan Wu's headquarters is merely a temporary refuge, a compromise for a semblance of stability. There is a tone of self-mockery here, as well as an expression of helplessness and resignation toward finding peace in life.
Overall Appreciation
On the surface, this poem depicts Du Fu's lonely life and inner solitude, but it also contains his reflections on the current state of the nation and his disappointment in his ideals. From the opening "clear autumn headquarters" to the concluding "barely find a branch to rest on," the poem's emotions run consistently, expressing the poet's anguish and helplessness. The first couplet uses "alone" and "the candle has burned to its end" to convey loneliness; the second couplet uses "the mournful sound of the horn" and "the unappreciated moonlight" to depict a lonely night; the third couplet uses "letters from home have ceased" and "the desolate frontier" to portray his isolation amidst turmoil; and the final couplet uses "伶俜" and "a branch to rest on" to express self-mockery, showcasing the poet's perseverance and helplessness in adversity. The poem is emotionally rich and deeply moving, with concise language that reveals Du Fu's loneliness and disappointment during turbulent times.
Writing Characteristics
- Emotionally Rich, Language Concise: Du Fu uses concise language to express his heavy heart and loneliness, with each line filled with profound emotion.
- Layered Progression, Profound Imagery: From the lonely environment to the sorrow of longing for home, and then to the hardships of life, the poet gradually unfolds and deepens the emotional layers, ultimately revealing a sorrowful inner world.
- Using Scenery to Reflect Emotion: The "burned-out candle," "mournful horn," and "bright moonlight" all serve to amplify the poet's emotions, vividly portraying his loneliness and helplessness.
Insights
This poem reveals how a person in adversity can find a sliver of comfort and solace amidst inner loneliness and helplessness. Du Fu, living in turbulent times, remained steadfast in his ideals and pursuits despite his difficult circumstances. The poem reminds us that in the loneliness and hardships of life, we often need to maintain a sense of self-mockery and self-reflection. Even in difficult circumstances, we should strive to find moments of peace.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Du Fu (杜甫), 712 - 770 AD, was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, known as the "Sage of Poetry". Born into a declining bureaucratic family, Du Fu had a rough life, and his turbulent and dislocated life made him keenly aware of the plight of the masses. Therefore, his poems were always closely related to the current affairs, reflecting the social life of that era in a more comprehensive way, with profound thoughts and a broad realm. In his poetic art, he was able to combine many styles, forming a unique style of "profound and thick", and becoming a great realist poet in the history of China.
