Farewell to Qiu the Twenty-Second, Bound for Suzhou
- Poetry of Cui Dong
Where mist-chilled waters stretch their endless sheen,
Fine crops line roads that wind through leagues unseen.
A lone ape wails from some sea-girt shore,
Wild geese rise loud from lake-fed fields once more.
You’ve strolled through Changzhou’s gardens fair,
Recited odes with courtly flair.
Yet now you bear sealed missives south—
I know you’ll steal naps by the stream’s bright mouth.
This poem was composed in the mid-to-late 8th century during the Tang Dynasty, when the Jiangnan water towns enjoyed economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy, with Suzhou being one of its most representative cities. The poet Cui Tong shared a profound friendship with his friend Qiu the Twenty-Second, and upon the latter's departure for Suzhou, Cui composed this farewell poem. It depicts the scenic journey while imbuing the landscape with deep emotion, expressing reluctant parting feelings. The verses reveal the poet's understanding of his friend's official journey, his portrayal of Jiangnan scenery, and his appreciation for the pleasures of reclusive living - seamlessly blending scenery, emotion, and reflection with remarkable lyrical charm.
积水与寒烟，嘉禾路几千。
孤猿啼海岛，群雁起湖田。
曾见长洲苑，尝闻大雅篇。
却将封事去，知尔爱闲眠。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.
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