On Lady Yang's Death II
- Poetry of Li Shangyin
Tis said there is a fairyland over the sea.
When this life is no more, can there another be?
In vain the watchman beat at night the warning gong;
No cock would wake her from dream with morning song.
The six armies demanded her death left and right.
Could she still laugh at severed lover-stars at night?
Though the emperor reigned as long as forty years,
She's not so happy as a griefless maid appears.
This poem was written during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty. Li Shangyin lived in the late Tang period, an era marked by the decline of the empire. In 755, the An Lushan Rebellion caused political turmoil and immense suffering for the people. Li Shangyin was deeply moved by the political corruption and the emperor's negligence, which is reflected in this poem. The poem criticizes Emperor Xuanzong’s indulgence in decadence and his neglect of state affairs. Through the comparison of historical events and the current state of affairs, it reveals the stark contrast between the emperor and the common people, particularly the Lu family, and expresses the poet's deep dissatisfaction with the ruler’s disregard for the people's welfare and political decay.
海外徒闻更九州，他生未卜此生休。
空闻虎旅传宵柝，无复鸡人报晓筹。
此日六军同驻马，当时七夕笑牵牛。
如何四纪为天子，不及卢家有莫愁。
- 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.