I. Original text
Cicadas sing in the west, and guests think of the south. I can't stand the shadow on my temple to break the heart of a white-haired prisoner.
His flight passed through the thick fog, and his pure voice was drowned in the world of wind. Who knows if he is still singing? Who will listen to me? ?
Second, translation.
In autumn, cicadas are singing sadly. As a prisoner, I can't help feeling sad. Although I am less than forty years old and have white hair, I can't stand the attack of cicada singing like a woman's black hair.
Autumn dew is thick, even if cicada spreads its wings, it is difficult to fly high, and the cold wind is rustling, which easily drowns its song. Although cicadas eat high and clean, who can believe my innocence and express my inner grievances for me?
Third, the creative background
His poem was written in Yifeng, Tang Gaozong in the third year of Jian 'an (678). King Robin, who was demoted 10 years ago and just promoted to imperial minister, was falsely accused and imprisoned for accepting bribes. Wen Yiduo said that King Robin was "born a chivalrous man, nosy, keen on killing people, revenging and revolting, and helping infatuated women to interrupt their scheming" (Poem of Palace Complaints).
King Robin dared to rebel against his boss and move his sword and pencil, so he was imprisoned by the authorities on charges of "accepting bribes" and "touching the marquis of war". Poetry is Wang Luobin's work in prison.
Appreciation of political prisoners listening to cicadas
First, cicadas sing in the west, and the southern crown ponders.
The continuous cicada singing in autumn aroused the infinite sadness of imprisoned poets. The poet touched the scene and felt the emotion, and the emotion was born by the scene. Where do emotions come from? Because I smell cicada. The poem begins with a lively dialogue, in which cicadas and worries are raised and reflected, and the writing is natural, steady and dignified. It is a matter of chanting, and things must be done first. The first sentence is about cicadas, and the second sentence is about oneself. Chanting things is not the original intention, but borrowing things to express feelings is the purpose.
Second, however, it needs those songs with black wings to break the heart of a white-haired prisoner.
Literally: Cicada's shrill voice seems to be singing Zhuo Wenjun's "White-headed Song" over and over again. The sound is really unbearable. The meaning is: cicada, you shouldn't sing your sorrow to a cellmate with pale hair. Your singing just stung my internal injuries and caused my sadness.
Wang Luobin skillfully used "White-headed Song" as a pun, which deepened his original intention. This poem is gloomy and profound, touching and sad.
Third, his flight went through heavy fog, and his pure voice was drowned in the windy world.
Poetry has two meanings. On the surface, it is chanting cicadas, but on the deep level, it is lyrical by borrowing things. "Exposed weight" and "windy" also mean that the political environment is sinister; "Difficult to fly" also means that the poet is difficult to make progress in life and career; "A loud voice is easy to sink" means that it is difficult for a poet to make a speech.
Combining with his own life experience and situation, the poet is very skillful in choosing images, and dew and wind are two natural phenomena suitable for cicadas and people respectively.
Fourth, who knows if he is still singing? Who will listen to me?
Qiu Chan is so high up that no one believes that it is divorced from reality. The poet Yu's character was unknown at that time. Instead, he was framed and imprisoned. "Who knows if he is still singing?" It is also an excuse for accepting bribes. In this case, no one came to avenge the poet. The last sentence is in the form of a question. Cicada and the poet are integrated.