For My Younger Brother
- Poetry of Li He

《示弟》
For My Younger Brother by Li He
English Translation

I left three years ago;

Again I'm in my nooks.

Tonight green wine aglow,

I forget yellow books.

Ill, I survive at last.

What won't happen on earth?

Glad that the die is cast,

I'm free from care or mirth.

This poem was written in the eighth year of the Yuanhe era during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty (813 CE). It was composed by Li He after resigning from his official post and returning to his hometown in Changgu. At the time, the poet was disheartened by his failed career, weakened by illness, and forced into seclusion. His heart was filled with complex emotions, including solace from familial bonds, lamentation over his unrealized ambitions, and a deep-seated cynicism toward society.

中文原文( Chinese )

别弟三年后，还家一日余。

醁醽今夕酒，缃帙去时书。

病骨犹能在，人间底事无？

何须问牛马，抛掷任枭卢！

- Last updated: 2025-10-07 15:38:38
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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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