Su Wu
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
Su Wu lived among the Tartar ten years long,
He kept his Han rod strong.
A wild swan flew o’er the Forest Park of the Divine;
Could it bring a message to the Imperial Court in time?
He tended sheep in the northern border, bitter, lone;
His heart was broken, gazing toward the setting sun.
Thirsty, he drank the ice from the moon’s cave;
Hungry, he ate the snow falling from the sky.
The desert stretched endless on his eastward way;
He bade the bridge farewell, sad and drear.
He wept, holding the robe of his friend,
Their tears became blood, seeing the bitter end.
This poem depicts the story of Su Wu, a Han dynasty envoy detained by the Xiongnu, and his steadfast loyalty amidst harsh conditions. In 100 BCE, Su Wu was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Xiongnu but was held captive by the Chanyu. Despite threats and temptations, he remained unyielding. Exiled to Lake Baikal to herd sheep, he endured extreme hardship for nineteen years before finally returning to the Han court. Through its portrayal of Su Wu’s perseverance, endurance, and longing for home, the poem exemplifies his unwavering faith and resilience.
苏武在匈奴，十年持汉节。
白雁上林飞，空传一书札。
牧羊边地苦，落日归心绝。
渴饮月窟冰，饥餐天上雪。
东还沙塞远，北怆河梁别。
泣把李陵衣，相看泪成血。
- 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.