English Rendering
Do not complain of golden cage and wings cut short;
The southern land is far warmer than the northwest.
Don't clearly speak if you listen to my exhort;
You will offend if clearly your complaint's expressed.
To the Parrot
- Poetry of Luo Yin
《鹦鹉》
Original Text (中文原文)
莫恨雕笼翠羽残，江南地暖陇西寒。
劝君不用分明语，语得分明出转难。
Analysis & Context
Composed during the turbulent Tang-Five Dynasties transition, this poem reflects Luo Yin's lifelong frustrations - repeated examination failures and unfulfilled ambitions. In his later years, though finding refuge with King Qian Liu of Wuyue, he remained discontent. Using a caged parrot as metaphor, the poem expresses his melancholy as an intellectual dependent on patronage, exemplifying allegorical self-expression through objects.
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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