Snow is white on the westward mountains and on three fortified towns,
And waters in this southern lake flash on a long bridge.
But wind and dust from sea to sea bar me from my brothers;
And I cannot help crying, I am so far away.
I have nothing to expect now but the ills of old age.
I am of less use to my country than a grain of dust.
I ride out to the edge of town. I watch on the horizon,
Day after day, the chaos of the world.
Original Poem:
「野望」
杜甫
西山白雪三城戍， 南浦清江万里桥。
海内风尘诸弟隔， 天涯涕泪一身遥。
唯将迟暮供多病， 未有涓埃答圣朝。
跨马出郊时极目， 不堪人事日萧条。
Interpretation:
"A View of the Wilderness" was written in 761 AD during the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, Du Fu was living in his thatched cottage in Chengdu, witnessing the constant turmoil on the frontiers as Tibetan forces harassed the borders of Sichuan. Internal strife and external threats intertwined, and Du Fu, nearing sixty and plagued by illness, was deeply concerned about the state of the nation yet powerless to contribute to military or political affairs. Filled with regret over his advancing age and inability to serve his country, he composed this poem in a state of profound sorrow and concern for the times.
First Couplet: "西山白雪三城戍，南浦清江万里桥。"
Xīshān báixuě sān chéng shù, Nánpǔ qīngjiāng wànlǐ qiáo.
Snow blankets the western hills, where three frontier towns are guarded by soldiers; the clear river at South Bank flows quietly, and the Long Bridge still spans its waters.
The opening couplet paints a scene of both distant and nearby landscapes. The snow-covered western hills and the guarded frontier towns highlight the tense military situation, while the tranquil river and the enduring Long Bridge evoke a sense of peace amidst turmoil. This juxtaposition creates a poignant contrast between stability and unrest.
Second Couplet: "海内风尘诸弟隔，天涯涕泪一身遥。"
Hǎinèi fēngchén zhū dì gé, tiānyá tìlèi yīshēn yáo.
War rages across the land, separating me from my brothers; alone at the edge of the world, I shed tears of longing.
This couplet expresses the poet's deep yearning for his family. The chaos of war has scattered his loved ones, leaving him isolated and helpless. The phrase "alone at the edge of the world" captures his profound loneliness and sorrow, emphasizing his emotional and physical distance from those he holds dear.
Third Couplet: "惟将迟暮供多病，未有涓埃答圣朝。"
Wéi jiāng chímù gōng duō bìng, wèi yǒu juān āi dá shèng cháo.
In my twilight years, I am burdened by illness, barely clinging to life; I have yet to offer even the slightest service to the imperial court.
Here, the poet shifts from personal sorrow to concern for the nation. Despite his loyalty and desire to serve, his age and ill health render him incapable of contributing. The phrase "the slightest service" reflects his humility and deep regret, underscoring his sense of inadequacy in the face of national crisis.
Fourth Couplet: "跨马出郊时极目，不堪人事日萧条。"
Kuà mǎ chū jiāo shí jímù, bùkān rénshì rì xiāotiáo.
I ride out to the outskirts and gaze into the distance, only to find a world in decline, its affairs too bleak to bear.
The final couplet returns to the present, blending scene and emotion. As the poet surveys the desolate landscape, he is overwhelmed by the decline of society and the suffering of the people. This imagery conveys his profound grief over the deteriorating state of the nation and the hardships endured by its citizens.
Overall Appreciation
Titled "Gazing into the Wilderness," the poem begins with a description of the landscape, transitions to personal emotion, then to reflection, and finally returns to the scene, each layer deepening the emotional weight. Du Fu intertwines his concern for his family, his lament over his own frailty, and his anxiety for the nation's decline, creating a profound sense of sorrow and helplessness. Though the poem lacks overtly impassioned language, its restrained tone powerfully conveys Du Fu's deep patriotism and compassion for the suffering of the people.
Writing Characteristics:
- Blending Scene and Emotion, Combining Reality and Reflection: The poem uses the act of "gazing" as a thread, moving from distant to nearby views, seamlessly merging external landscapes with internal emotions, creating a deeply moving effect.
- Layered Emotional Progression: The poet moves from concern for his family and country, to lamenting his own aging and illness, and finally to despair over the nation's decline. Each layer intensifies the emotional depth and intellectual resonance.
- Natural Use of Allusion, Profound Symbolism: Place names like "three frontier towns" and "Long Bridge" carry rich historical and cultural connotations, evoking the backdrop of constant warfare.
- Simple Language, Desolate Imagery: Through plain yet evocative language, the poet conveys both his personal plight and the broader societal turmoil, creating a somber and deeply affecting tone.
Insights
This poem reflects the sorrow and helplessness of countless displaced individuals during a time of war, as seen through Du Fu's personal lament. Despite his age and illness, Du Fu remains deeply concerned for his country and its people, embodying a noble sense of patriotism. The work reminds us that even in adversity, we must uphold a sense of responsibility, care for society, and maintain a sincere heart that grieves for the nation and its people.
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.
