A Message to Secretary Linghu
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《寄令狐郎中》

English Rendering

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.

A Message to Secretary Linghu by Li Shangyin

Original Text (中文原文)

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。

Analysis & Context

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.

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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