Farewell to Du Fu at Stone Gate
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
Before we part we've drunk for many days
And visit'd all the scenic spots and bays.
When at the Gate of Stone shall we meet and drain
Our brimming golden cups of wine again?
The autumn waves of River Si still flow;
The seaside mountains stand in morning glow.
You'll go away as thistledown will fly,
So let us fill our cups and drink them dry.
This poem was written in the autumn of 745 AD, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, Li Bai, having left Chang'an after being "granted gold and dismissed from court," was traveling in the Liang-Song region (modern-day Kaifeng and Shangqiu in Henan). During this period, he bid farewell to Du Fu in Lu Commandery (modern-day Qufu, Shandong). Du Fu was traveling between Zhengzhou and Liangyuan due to his grandmother's passing, while Li Bai continued his journey toward the Jiangdong region. On the eve of their parting, Li Bai composed this poem to express his deep friendship and the reluctance to part.
醉别复几日，登临遍池台。
何时石门路，重有金樽开。
秋波落泗水，海色明徂徕。
飞蓬各自远，且尽手中杯。
- 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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