Liu Yuxi's Autumn Poems
Since ancient times, every autumn has been sad and lonely.
I say autumn is better than spring tide.
In the clear sky, a crane is walking among the clouds.
It brought poetry to Bixiao.
1. Background:
This poem was written when the poet was demoted to Sima in Langzhou. In Yongzhenyuan (AD 805), Shunzong acceded to the throne and appointed Wang to reform state affairs. Liu Yuxi also participated in this innovation movement. However, this innovation was strongly opposed by eunuchs, buffer regions and bureaucratic forces and ended in failure. Shunzong was forced to abdicate, Wang died and Liu Yuxi was demoted. It is commendable that the poet didn't feel depressed after a severe blow. Autumn Ci was written when he was relegated to Langzhou. As can be seen from the poem, Liu Yuxi is not pessimistic and disappointed, but uncharacteristically praises autumn, giving people a high-spirited confidence. This is consistent with his character of being demoted and fighting many times.
2. Understand the main idea of this poem.
This is a seven-character quatrain with four sentences and 28 words.
"Autumn has been sad and lonely since ancient times", at the beginning of the poem, bluntly speaking the old tune of sad autumn through the ages.
"I say autumn is better than spring", which is the opposite of eternal sadness. But the poet praises autumn more than spring, and shows his attitude in the first person, showing the poet's tenacity of never giving in to decadent forces.
The words "Wan Li in a clear sky, a crane on the cloud" and "Wan Li in a clear sky" describe the characteristics of crisp autumn, which is incomparable between windy and dusty spring and cold spring. In the context of the poet's relegation, a solitary crane soared in the sky and hit the sky directly. The author's intention is self-evident. This intention is the essence of the whole poem. Don't we feel that the poet's depraved and depressed feelings naturally fly to the sky with the crane and spread their wings! The poet's positive and optimistic firm belief is to "bring poetry to the blue sky".
This is a struggling solitary crane. It was born between the swamp and the lake, determined to strike the sky and show its majestic posture. Obviously, the solitary crane that is independent in cold autumn and flies proudly is the embodiment of the poet's ideal, and only such a crane dares to say that "autumn is better than spring."
3. Understand the meaning of this poem.
"Sad autumn" is the traditional theme of ancient poetry, with many famous articles. Liu Yuxi's "Autumn Ci" is an anti-tradition, bringing forth the old and bringing forth the new, and writes a vibrant and combative autumn. This is inseparable from the poet's background and character in writing this poem. The poet thinks that sad autumn is more beautiful than spring. The conception of this poem is not only novel, but also profound, showing the poet's unique spirit and unique insight.
4. Translation
Since ancient times, poets and poets have lamented the depression, desolation and emptiness of autumn, but I say that autumn is far better than spring. In autumn, when the sky is clear in Wan Li, a crane flies into the sky, which also inspires my poetry to fly into the clear sky in Wan Li.