Blake [England]
We walked happily in the fields,
Taste all the pride of summer;
Until I saw the king of love
Drifting with the sun.
He put lilies in my hair,
Bright red roses are knotted on my forehead;
He took me through his garden,
It is full of his golden happiness.
My wings are covered with dew in May,
Faber lit my voice;
He suddenly caught me with barbed wire,
He locked me in his golden cage.
He likes to sit down and listen to me sing.
After singing, you laugh and laugh with me.
He will spread my golden wings,
Laugh at why I lost my freedom.
(translated by Cha Liang Zheng)
Many people in the world have fallen into the river of "love" and produced so many colorful love poems. But who has thought, why do people love, and when did love come into being? This poem by Blake tells us that because there is a king of love, as long as his screen is caught, no one can escape.
As an avant-garde poet, his ideas are naturally very breakthrough. This poem does not describe the lingering when we met, the bitter thoughts after parting, nor the ups and downs when we loved, were loved and did not love, but captures the feelings when we unconsciously became prisoners of love.
The poet did not extend the old saying of "Cupid's Arrow", but imagined that when he was walking happily in the embrace of nature, he met the king of love, who dressed him with lilies and roses, and then led him to walk in his garden. When he was immersed in the colorful flowers, the king of love caught him with a silk screen and laughed at him. Why did he fall in love and lose his freedom? What a strange imagination, what a strong appeal! Who read this poem but didn't expect to meet the king of love himself?
Critics have said that some of Blake's works are obscure because of the use of mysterious symbols, especially his later works, such as the long poem Four Gods, which have a unique symbol and myth system that puzzles readers. However, we have to admit that in this song, the poet only uses symbolism: the lily inserted in the hair and the rose tied on the forehead symbolize love; "There is a garden full of his golden joy" symbolizes the sweet happiness of love life; And that screen symbolizes the moment when two hearts collide-at this time, lovers fall in love.
Here, both imagination and symbol contain the author's profound experience and careful observation of life, so it can be so vivid and touching, in exchange for touching artistic appeal.