In this poem, Du Fu's first sentence is in the form of rhyme, which is a benchmark of modern poetry meter. In ancient times, poetry was used to express feelings, and this poem covered more than 40 years in just 28 words. Concise language and rich imagination are Du Fu's realism as a poet and his friend Li Guinian's old dream.
At the time of writing this poem, Du Fu was over 58 years old, and he must have a premonition of his old age in the midst of being displaced from place to place. Under the social background of the Tang Dynasty, the Anshi Rebellion and the withering of everything, he met his close friend Li Guinian in Jiangnan.
In the past, Du Fu was young and vigorous, and was a frequent visitor to the powerful mansion. Li Guinian once performed in palaces such as the King of Qi and the Sword in the Temple. However, after decades, the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River is beautiful, but the meeting between friends seems a bit abrupt. Li Guinian, a singer who once performed in The King of Qi and The Prisoner of the Temple, was reduced to the Jiangnan music scene.
On the other hand, the poet himself is not so down and out. Compared with the past and the present, personal destiny leads to the same goal, and the Tang Dynasty turned from prosperity to decline in more than 40 years.
In Bian Xiao's view, the most surprising thing is that the author came to an abrupt end after seeing Li Guinian. What did you do after Feng Jun? Presumably, this is the highest state of heartlessness, and silence is better than sound.
As a poet who has a far-reaching influence on China's classical poetry, Du Fu's poetry is more like a history book. Born into a noble family, I was interested in "making the monarch Yao and Shun, and then making the customs pure", but I got a bad career after all. I have seen the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and the ups and downs of the Tang Dynasty. The "gloomy and frustrated" poetic style is a portrayal of the times, which is vividly reflected in "Meeting Li Guinian Downstream".