Written for My Grandnephew at the Blue Pass
- Poetry of Han Yu
To the Celestial Court a proposal was made,
And I am banished eight thousand li away.
To undo the misdeeds I would have given aid,
Dare I have spared myself with powers in decay?
The Ridge veiled in barred clouds, where can my home be seen?
The Blue Pass clad in snow, my horse won't forward go.
You have come from afar and I know what you mean:
Not to leave my bones there where miastic waves flow.
This poem was written during Han Yu's demotion to the position of governor in Chaozhou. Han Yu had angered the imperial court by his stern advice to Emperor Xianzong regarding the relics of the Buddha, which led to his exile. The poem expresses his frustration and helplessness in the face of fate, as well as his deep concerns for his homeland and future. The entire poem reflects Han Yu's unwavering character and the tragic fate of a hero in decline.
一封朝奏九重天，夕贬潮州路八千。
欲为圣明除弊事，肯将衰朽惜残年！
云横秦岭家何在？雪拥蓝关马不前。
知汝远来应有意，好收吾骨瘴江边。
- 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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- Willow Catkins Over the Pond
- Written for My Grandnephew at the Blue Pass
- South of Town I
- South of Town II
- Multi-Vista Tower at Sweet Dew Temple
- River Thoughts for Wang Anshi
- Bamboos by South Veranda
- The Condensed Incense Studio
- Ten Thousand Thoughts a Day