To the Firefly
- Poetry of Yu Shinan
《咏萤》
English Translation
Flickering, you shed a green light;
Wafting weak wings, you flit in flight.
Being afraid to be unknown,
In the darkness you gleam alone.
This poem stands as one of the most philosophically profound among Yu Shinan's numerous object-poems. Having served in both the Sui and Tang courts, Yu was known for his humility and virtue—a diligent scholar in youth, an accomplished official in midlife, and a contemplative recluse in his later years. Through the metaphor of the faintly-glowing firefly, the poem expresses the poet's unyielding commitment to shine despite marginal positions and obscurity, reflecting both the solitary nobility of maintaining self-worth and the introspective tenacity characteristic of scholarly spirit.
中文原文( Chinese )
的历流光小，飘飖弱翅轻。
恐畏无人识，独自暗中明。
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- 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.