English Rendering
Your wife gazes at yellowing willows at home;
You on flowers falling on the ground while you roam.
Spring comes to end in two places on the same day;
You think of home and she of you far, far away.
For Roaming Yuan Zhen
- Poetry of Bai Juyi
《望驿台》
Original Text (中文原文)
靖安宅里当窗柳，望驿台前扑地花。
两处春光同日尽，居人思客客思家。
Analysis & Context
This poem was written in March of 809 (the 4th year of the Yuanhe era), when Bai Juyi responded to his friend Yuan Zhen. At that time, Yuan Zhen, as a censor, was on a mission in Guangyuan, Sichuan. Taking this opportunity, Bai Juyi wrote this poem to his friend, expressing his deep feelings about friendship, separation, and nostalgia.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
- Yiai Temple
- Early Spring
- The Zither
- On Qiantang Lake in Spring
- Spring View in Hangzhou
- Song of Willow Branch
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
The Masters' Directory
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
View All Poets →