Farewell to Zhang Dan's River Journey Back to Beihai
- Poetry of Han Hong
A thousand miles eastward you roam,
Your lone heart dwells on journeys flown.
A single sail clings to pale streams' gleam,
While pillowed high in Qingzhou's emerald dream.
At Cypress Hall, withered grasses sigh,
Phoenix Tower's night rains fade dry.
I know your spirit yearns afar—
How oft you'll climb where sea mists spar!
This poem was composed by Han Hong upon bidding farewell to Zhang Dan, who was embarking on a long journey eastward by water to Beihai (present-day Guangxi). With subtle yet profound emotion, Han masterfully blends the natural imagery of his friend's departure—a boat traversing the river—with his own heartfelt concern, embodying the Tang tradition of "emotion within scenery" in farewell poetry. The verses reflect both the poet's deep care for his friend's journey and his hopeful wishes for the future.
千里东归客，孤心忆旧游。
片帆依白水，高枕卧青州。
柏寝寒芜变，梧台宿雨收。
知君心兴远，每上海边楼。
- 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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