This poem is very similar to the sliding lens in photography, using the change of subjective distance between "you", "me" and "cloud" to show the habitual fear of fear between people and the relationship between people and nature. Raw intimacy. Let’s take a look at the poet Gu Cheng’s appreciation of the far and near.
Far and near
Gu Cheng
Far and near
You,
Look at me for a while,
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Look at the clouds for a while.
I think,
When you look at me, I am far away,
When you look at the clouds, they are very close.
June 1980
Appreciation of Far and Near
(Note: This is a short poem written by Gu Cheng in June 1980.
Gu Cheng is one of the representatives of the Misty Poetry School, a famous poetry school that emerged in the Chinese poetry circle in the 1980s. This type of poetry pursues overall symbolism in form, and its images are mostly opaque and multi-faceted. From the content point of view, the pursuit of self-worth often has a sense of criticism and worry about history and tradition. On the whole, hazy poetry produces many blank spots and uncertainties because of the opacity of its imagery and the fragmentary nature of its combination. It also reserves a lot of room for imagination and thinking for readers, making people read it often.
With its ordinary and simple images, simple and plain language, and short poem structure, it gives readers a lot of room for imagination and thinking.
Readers show the greatest imagination and endow the poem with infinite tension)
The interpretation of Gu Cheng's "Far and Near" has always been controversial. Many people claim that they cannot understand it. People who have figured out a few clues often only focus on one aspect, such as interpreting it purely from the perspective of love, philosophy, and historical reflection. The result is that they often focus on one aspect and miss the other. In my opinion, this is indeed a poem that expresses love, but it is not only about love, but also contains the poet's strong spiritual sustenance and pursuit. The following is a detailed interpretation of this poem from the following three aspects:
1. Simple and complex special feelings:
From the perspective of the construction of the poem lines, Gu Cheng's "Far and Near" ", only two sections, 6 lines and 24 words. In such a short space, the word "you" occupies one line alone, which cannot but attract people's attention and thus plays a prominent role. "I think" also occupies a line of its own, echoing the form of "you" in the first line. It also implies that all inner activities and feelings of "I" are centered on "you", and "I" starts from you. The movements and erratic eyes read "your" heart.
The first section mainly describes "you"'s actions objectively, showing the world of "you", a world of freedom; the next section mainly describes "my" inner feelings about "you"'s actions, It is a completely autonomous, "my" world. It can also be said to be a subjective intervention of "me" into the world of "you". The basic functions of poetry are to "maintain feelings" and "express aspirations", so it is obvious that the next stanza is the focus of poetry.
On the whole, "your" actions are shown through "my" eyes. It is "my" sight that gives "you" all the actions in this poem. On the one hand, this shows that I care about your every move and every bit. On the other hand, it also shows that I respect my own inner feelings. Just imagine if it was a complete stranger, could "I" care so much?
Therefore, this is a poem expressing love, and the feelings filled in it are both simple and complex.
2. The contradiction between the two distances:
In this poem, far and near are both physical distance and psychological distance. Physical distance can be measured and is fixed, while Psychological distance is indeed fuzzy and immeasurable. The author puts these two different and incomparable distances together for comparison. This is an absurdity and a contradiction in itself. However, this is also the embodiment of poetry, because poetry often starts from a place that goes against common sense. Another manifestation of this contradiction is that the far and near objects of comparison "I" and "Cloud" are heterogeneous and unequal. "I" is an objectively existing, real person, while "Cloud" "It is an ethereal, illusory natural object.
According to common sense, the distance between "you" and "cloud" is of course farther than the distance between "you" and "me". However, "you" makes "me" feel that the distance between "you" and "me" is even greater. Far, this is a kind of exchange between physical feeling and psychological distance. "You" are so mysterious and unpredictable when facing "me", and I can't figure it out; but when facing "cloud", facing nature, it is really so frank, and it feels like there will always be a gap between "you" and "me". There is an invisible barrier that blocks our spiritual communication.
Two adverbs are used repeatedly throughout the poem. The repeated use of "a while" shows the erratic nature of your eyes, seeming to be dodging and deliberately; the repeated use of "very" contains more and more meanings, and the repeated use of This makes the difference in distance stronger and clearer, giving the poem an endless aftertaste.
3. The eternal conflict between spirit and body
It is a tradition of modern poetry to use imagery in lyric poetry. In this poem, "cloud" is the central image and the poetic eye. It symbolizes the dreamy life elsewhere; "I" symbolizes the real life. People will always be dissatisfied with reality and think that good things are always far away. Just like "I" and "cloud" in the poem, they symbolize the conflict between reality and ideal, this shore and the other shore, material and spiritual.
Goethe said that everyone has two spirits: one is addicted to love and stubbornly clings to this earthly aspect, and the other violently wants to leave the earthly aspect and move towards the sublime. The spiritual realm is flying. The conflict between spirit and body is an eternal theme in poetry. Therefore, in this poem, it can be said that "you" looking at "clouds" is actually looking at some kind of fantasy in your own heart, while "I" is looking at you. action, so "I" am looking at "you" looking at the clouds, so in fact "you" is some kind of fantasy in my heart, "you" is like a pure person, a real person who has not been contaminated by any worldly things, and is me Eternal dreams and pursuits.
In summary, this poem is a poem that expresses love, but it not only expresses love, but also contains the author’s spiritual pursuit and yearning, revealing an eternal and unchangeable thing in the world. Conflict, that is, the conflict and opposition between spirit and flesh.
Creation background
Times background
"Today" was founded in 1978. It was the cradle of Misty Poetry and the main position of Misty Poetry School at that time. A large number of young poets gathered around, including Bei Dao, Shu Ting, Shi Zhi, Mang Ke and Duo Duo. Their poems express subjective feelings, starting from the personal soul, and also make extensive use of symbols, metaphors and synaesthesia in expression techniques. In August 1980, "Poetry Magazine" published an article titled "The Depressing "Hazy"" criticizing this type of poetry as "unreadable", hence the name "Misty Poetry".
Opportunity for creation
At the end of 1978, Gu Cheng saw the first issue of "Today" posted on the outer wall of Xidan Stadium. He was moved by the poems on it. In April 1980, Gu Cheng published several short poems for the first time in "Today" under the signature "Gucheng". In October of the same year, Gong Liu published an article in "Stars" titled "Starting from Several Poems of Comrade Gu Cheng", praising Gu Cheng's poetry works published in "Dandelion". Since then, Gu Cheng has emerged in the poetry world and has been mentioned in various articles as a representative poet of the Misty School. At the end of 1980, "Poetry Magazine" published two poems by Gu Cheng, one of which was "Far and Near". [4]
Work Appreciation
"Far and Near" expresses specific psychological and aesthetic tastes, with implicit, refined expression and profound content. The first section writes about "you"'s behavior of looking around. The second section is about the unique feeling of writing "I". From the superficial point of view, this is an illusion. Because since you can see me, it means that the distance between the two parties is not far away, and the "cloud" is in the sky, and the distance between it and people is out of reach. The poet deliberately reveals the distance and nearness of a psychological distance through surface images. Although people are close at hand, there are various psychological barriers and insurmountable gaps, so they feel "far away". But people and clouds, people and nature can communicate with each other emotionally, so they feel "very close" - close and harmonious. The poet uses symbolic techniques to express the disharmony between psychological distance and physical distance, and expresses the pursuit and yearning for a good relationship between people.
The poem is concise and concise, making it easy for people to associate with personal life experience, and its beauty is hidden in the abstract lines.
But if you savor it carefully, you will find that there is an eager expectation hidden in the calmness, calling for a kind of mutual understanding, mutual trust, and harmonious interpersonal relationships. And because the poet concealed the cause of the illusion, he intentionally left a large blank space to trigger readers' imagination. Depending on the readers' psychological factors, this imaginary picture will be different.
Judging from the delicate emotions expressed in the poem, the work is like the inner monologue of a shy boy. He admired a girl, but was too shy to confess, and did not even dare to make eye contact with the girl's eyes. He could only sneak a glance at the girl when her eyes turned elsewhere. While watching eagerly, he sadly discovered that he was so cowardly, helpless, and inferior. The heat of love failed to burn the shyness in his heart, and he did not dare to let his eyes reveal his inner anxiety. "When you look at me, I am far away, but when you look at the clouds, they are very close." It is so resentful yet so plain, so anxious yet so hesitant, and the lines are full of moist atmosphere.
The poetic eye of the poem is "far" and "near". The word "very" makes the distance referred to by far and near become extreme. To alleviate and change this situation, considerable efforts are required. . Emotional closerness is not a matter of wishful thinking, and sometimes it is not even wishful thinking. It requires the right atmosphere, a pleasant mood, fearless courage, long-term persistence, and especially wise wisdom. Although the existence of distance makes people toss and turn, feel anxious and at a loss as to what to do, in the illusory imagination of love, the side image of the sweetheart is the most beautiful. It inspires people's inner longing for love. This is probably the most magical stage of love.
One is far, the other is close, triggering all kinds of thoughts about human beings and nature, matter and spirit, body and soul, existence and nothingness, and can also bring many associations to readers and evoke the excitement. Its short and concise appearance is packed with rich connotations. For a thousand readers, there will be a thousand "I" and "you". [5]
Comments by famous experts
Zhang Deming, professor of the School of Humanities of Zhejiang University, "Introduction to the Classics of New Poetry in a Century": "Far and Near" is a work that has never been published before. The other party compared the distance between "I" and the cloud to imply some profound philosophy. Although this poem only has two stanzas and six lines, it contains a profound "fallacy": in your eyes, the clouds far away in the sky seem close, but the "I" in front of you seem far away. What is the purpose of the poet writing this way? It is not difficult for careful readers to find that Gu Cheng wants to tell readers a meaningful truth about the relationship between people and between people and nature. When people are separated from each other, people can feel the kindness and closeness of nature more. It can be seen that although this "fallacy" in poetry does not conform to the common sense of the physical world, it is in line with the reality of the psychological world. This is the poet's unique life discovery and artistic creation. "Far and Near" is short in words but long in meaning, with a prominent theme. It can be described as an exquisite piece. [6]
Li Chaoquan, associate researcher of the Chinese Writers Association, "Centennial Classics of Poetry": Far and near are relative. Everything in the world, emotions and psychology are relative. The clouds in the sky are far away, but they appear closer than me standing in front of you. This is a kind of psychological dislocation, a kind of spiritual separation. I am in front of you, but you turn a blind eye. This is the furthest distance. People may become out of reach due to alienation. In the relationship between people, it is possible not to save someone when they are dead, not to help someone when they fall to the ground, or not to recognize the other person. Is this a tragedy for society, or is it due to our own lonely nature? This poem has profound meaning, is full of life philosophy, and can be interpreted in various ways. [7]
"The Most Beautiful Poetry" by Li Na, associate professor at Xianning University in Hubei Province: This is a short poem with simple meaning and concentrated expression. The poet uses this kind of reverse contrast to express the distance between people. Although they are around each other, they are emotionally distant and indifferent. Although the distance is close, it is not as close as to the clouds that are far away in the horizon. , and on a deeper level, even between close people, there is the problem of distance and nearness, which is the distance between people's hearts. The distance in nature, no matter how far it is, has a measure, but the psychological distance between people is sometimes unfathomable. [8]
About the author
The author is like Gu Cheng (1956-1993), a representative figure of hazy poetry. He was born in Beijing in 1956. In 1969, he was transferred to Dongzhong Commune, Changyi County, Shandong Province with his father for five years. After returning to Beijing, he worked as a fondant worker and porter. In 1987, he was invited to visit European and American countries for cultural exchanges and lectures.
In 1988, he went to New Zealand and was hired as a researcher in the Department of Asian Languages ??at the University of Auckland. He later resigned and lived in seclusion on Waiheke Island. In 1992, he revisited Europe and the United States. In October 1993, he killed his wife and then committed suicide. He left behind a large number of poems, calligraphy and paintings, and published "Complete Collection of Gucheng Poems", the novel "Ying'er", and many collections of essays.