To Censors Li and Yuan, with a Message for Wu Wuling
- Poetry of Liu Zongyuan
This age discards scholars like weeds,
Cast to Xiang River's reedless shores.
Sunlight floods the seas—but who heeds
Stones that chime where no ear adores?
Plucked-wing birds on dead boughs cry,
Dipping, rising—mournful tune.
North winds spit clouds cold and dry,
Autumn's end—a barren noon.
Nobles still roam at their ease,
While we petty men must freeze.
Day by day our sorrows grow,
Nurturing grief none can know.
Let's drain this cup of wine we share,
Sing loud—though none will ever care.
Pity no musician stays
To string my verse in finer ways.
This poem was composed in autumn 812 AD during Emperor Xianzong's Yuanhe era, while Liu Zongyuan was exiled in Yongzhou. The "Wu Wuling" mentioned in the poem was a close friend and kindred spirit Liu met during their shared exile. As Wu Wuling had just been pardoned and allowed to return north, while Liu remained stranded in Lingling, the poet expresses his melancholy. Criticizing the political darkness that discarded worthy talents, Liu directs fierce satire toward the regime while dedicating the poem to Wu Wuling and Li Qingyuan, affirming the deep camaraderie among exiled scholars. The poem balances profound emotion with dignified restraint, standing as a representative work of Liu's political critique and moral resilience during his banishment.
理世固轻士，弃捐湘之湄。
阳光竟四溟，敲石安所施。
铩羽集枯干，低昂互鸣悲。
朔云吐风寒，寂历穷秋时。
君子尚容与，小人守兢危。
惨凄日相视，离忧坐自滋。
樽酒聊可酌，放歌谅徒为。
惜无协律者，窈眇弦吾诗。
- 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.
- Villager's Song I
- Villager's Song II
- Villager's Song III
- The Ferry at Yiyang
- The Village Tavern
- Quatrain of Four Words: Deep Love, True Heart
- Mountain's End
- Seven Poems on Kaiyuan Era: Dancing Horses
- Midnight Song of the Four Seasons: Summer
- In Reply to Pimei’s Poem Written During Illness