Sunny twilight
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《晚晴》

English Rendering

Overlook the parapet wall on the lonely balcony.

spring has gone but summer is still cool.

God has a special mercy on the little grass,

this world also has a soft spot for the sunny twilight.


Balustrade i hold,stare the distant scenery silently,

afterglow floats on my window,looks so cute.

The humid nest on the tree is dried by the sun,

Look,those birds come home,fly lighter than the morning.

Sunny twilight by Li Shangyin
Sunny twilight by Li Shangyin

Original Text (中文原文)

深居俯夹城,春去夏犹清。天意怜幽草,人间重晚晴。

并添高阁迥,微注小窗明。越鸟巢干后,归飞体更轻。

Analysis & Context

Although “The Fine Evening” describes the simple transition from spring to summer, Li Shangyin incorporates his unique emotions and imagery to elegantly illustrate his experience with the fine evening weather. Li Shangyin sets the scenery with the first term, 深 (deep), signifying his isolated location. In this peculiar place, people and nature often go unnoticed. However, 天意(Providence) pities the secluded grass and replaces the gloomy spring rain with the glowing summer sunshine, allowing both nature and the poet to become awestruck by the wonderful summer evening weather. Li Shangyin’s decision to incorporate Providence into the reason behind the transition from spring to summer raises the significance of this natural phenomena to another level; in essence, every aspect of creation is adorned by God. His reference to religion is not surprising; in fact, Li Shangyin studied Daoism during his youthful days. Daoists favor the simple and the natural, believing that “dao” is the Way of Nature. As such, his reference to the spontaneous passing of spring and the grass’ relief can be interpreted as Daoist references.

Reader's Companion

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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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