Travelling is Hard
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《行路难·金樽清酒斗十千》

English Rendering

Clear wine in golden goblets, ten thousand cash a cup,

And costly delicacies on jade platters.

Yet I spurn drinking and toss away my chopsticks,

Sword in hand, restless, I wonder what to do.

I want to cross the Yellow River, but it's ice-bound;

I want to climb the Taihang Mountains, but they're snow-covered.

So idly I fish by a limpid stream,

Dreaming of sailing towards the sun.

Travelling is hard! Travelling is hard!

So many crossroads; which to choose?

One day I'll skim the waves, blown by the wind,

With sails hoisted high, across the vast ocean.

Travelling is Hard by Li Bai (Li Po)
Travelling is Hard by Li Bai (Li Po)

Original Text (中文原文)

金樽清酒斗十千,玉盘珍羞直万钱。

停杯投箸不能食,拔剑四顾心茫然。

欲渡黄河冰塞川,将登太行雪满山。

闲来垂钓碧溪上,忽复乘舟梦日边。

行路难!行路难!多歧路,今安在?

长风破浪会有时,直挂云帆济沧海。

Analysis & Context

The three-poem series On the Hard Road was written after Li Bai suffered slander at court and career setbacks. This first poem, composed in 744 AD when departing Chang'an, adopts the Han Dynasty yuefu tradition to express frustration over officialdom's hardships and anguish over unfulfilled ambitions, while showcasing his indomitable spirit. Blending disappointment with hopeful determination, it portrays an unrecognized talent with grand aspirations yet ill-fated destiny.

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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