English Rendering
Yellow clouds spread for miles and miles have veiled the day;
The north wind blows down snow and wild geese fly away.
Fear not you've no admirers as you go along.
There is no connoisseur on earth but loves your song.
Farewell to a Lutist
- Poetry of Gao Shi
《别董大二首 · 其一》
Original Text (中文原文)
千里黄云白日曛，北风吹雁雪纷纷。
莫愁前路无知己，天下谁人不识君。
Analysis & Context
This poem was written by Gao Shi to Dong Tinglan (Dong Da), a famous musician in the Tang Dynasty, possibly a zither virtuoso during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. Gao Shi, at the time of writing this poem, was struggling in a period of personal hardship, poverty, and disillusionment. In contrast, Dong Da was already a well-known figure in the artistic world. Gao Shi’s poem expresses both his care and encouragement to his friend while showcasing his own generous and broad-minded character.
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.
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