A View of the Wilderness ( Viewing the Plain )
- Poetry of Du Fu

《野望》

English Rendering

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.

A View of the Wilderness ( Viewing the Plain ) by Du Fu
A View of the Wilderness ( Viewing the Plain ) by Du Fu

Original Text (中文原文)

东皋薄暮望,徙倚欲何依。

树树皆秋色,山山唯落晖。

牧人驱犊返,猎马带禽归。

相顾无相识,长歌怀采薇。

Analysis & Context

Seven-character-regular-verse

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

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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.

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