A Message to Secretary Linghu
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《寄令狐郎中》
A Message to Secretary Linghu by Li Shangyin
English Translation

I am far from the clouds of Sung Mountain, a long way from trees in Qin;

And I send to you a message carried by two carp:

-- Absent this autumn from the Prince's garden,

There's a poet at Maoling sick in the rain.

Seven-character-quatrain

In the autumn of 845 AD (the fifth year of Huichang era), while observing mourning for his mother in Luoyang, the poet received a letter from his old friend Linghu Tao and responded with this poem. It expresses cherished memories of their profound friendship while lamenting his own rootless existence and unrecognized talents. Linghu Tao, son of Linghu Chu who had mentored Li Shangyin in his youth, had been instrumental in helping the poet pass the imperial examinations. However, their relationship grew distant due to changes in marital connections. This unexpected correspondence stirred deep emotions in the poet, inspiring this composition.

中文原文( Chinese )

嵩云秦树久离居，双鲤迢迢一纸书。

休问梁园旧宾客，茂陵秋雨病相如。

Pre： Note On a Rainy Night to a Friend in the North
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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