An Elegy for Myself I
- Poetry of Tao Yuanming
Where there is life, there must be death;
In due time we'll breathe our last breath.
Last night we lived and filled our posts;
Today my name's among the ghosts.
Where is my soul fled far away?
But shriveled forms in coffin stay.
My children miss their father, crying;
My friends caress my body, sighing.
For gain or loss I no more care;
Right or wrong is not my affair.
Thousands of years will pass away,
And shame and glory of today.
But I regret, while living still,
I have not drunk wine to my fill.
Composed in the late 5th century, this poem opens Tao Yuanming's triptych of self-elegies written in his twilight years. While traditional dirges mourned the deceased, these "imitations" represent the poet's imagined posthumous lament—both a meditation on mortality and an enlightenment about life's essence. Scholarly debates persist regarding Tao's death date (variously placed at 59 or 63 years old), leaving uncertain whether this was his poetic swan song. Yet the poem's serene acceptance and sorrow-transcending wisdom suggest mature philosophical reflection rather than momentary grief.
有生必有死，早终非命促。
昨暮同为人，今旦在鬼录。
魂气散何之？枯形寄空木。
娇儿索父啼，良友抚我哭。
得失不复知，是非安能觉？
千秋万岁后，谁知荣与辱。
但恨在世时，饮酒不得足。
- 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.
- An Elegy for Myself I
- Pale Yellow Willow: Lodging West of Red-Rail Bridge, Hefei
- Charm of a Maiden Singer: A Boat Amidst Blushing Blooms
- Hidden Fragrance: Moonlight of Bygone Days
- Early Summer: Seeking Yu Creek After Rain
- Midnight Vigil in West Garden
- Villager's Song I
- Villager's Song II
- Villager's Song III
- The Ferry at Yiyang