Farewell to Du Shenyan
- Poetry of Song Zhiwen

《送别杜审言》
Farewell to Du Shenyan by Song Zhiwen
English Translation

They say that wildgeese, flying southward,

Here turn back, this very month...

Shall my own southward journey

Ever be retraced, I wonder?

...The river is pausing at ebb-tide,

And the woods are thick with clinging mist --

But tomorrow morning, over the mountain,

Dawn will be white with the plum-trees of home.

This poem was composed by Tang Dynasty poet Song Zhiwen as a heartfelt farewell to his friend Du Shenyan, who was exiled due to political persecution. Bedridden by severe illness and unable to bid farewell in person, Song expresses both compassion for his friend's plight and sorrow over their shared fate. Blending classical allusions with lyrical imagery, the verses convey profound parting emotions while reflecting on the injustice suffered by talented individuals.

中文原文( Chinese )

卧病人事绝，嗟君万里行。

河桥不相送，江树远含情。

别路追孙楚，维舟吊屈平。

可惜龙泉剑，流落在丰城。

· Pre： Nscribed on the Wall of An Inn North of Dayu Mountain
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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