Yu Shinan
This is the first time I have seen you.
Cicada droops like a tassel on a hat, its tentacles suck the clear dew, and its voice spreads from the branches of the straight Shulang tree.
This is the first time I have seen you.
Cicada is far away from cicada because cicada is on a tall tree, not relying on autumn wind.
Translation of cicadas;
The cicada lowered its head and drank the clear dew, and made a cry on the tall plane tree.
It lives in a high place, and the sound can naturally travel far, without the help of autumn wind.
Yu Shinan's Cicada is a poem describing the short life of cicadas, expressing his thoughts on the passage of time and short life. The following is an explanation of the meaning of this poem:
The theme of this poem is to describe the life of cicada, and to describe the process of cicada from larva to adult and then to twilight. The first section realistically depicts the process of larva molting and growing up, the second section shows the scene of adult singing, and the last section shows the scene of cicada aging and the end of life.
The whole poem metaphors human life and the passage of time through the life cycle of cicadas. Cicada has evolved into an adult several times, using songs to show its existence, reproduction and vitality, but in the end, its fate is short. Cicada's life can only be spent in a limited time, and its singing will inevitably stop gradually.
This poem expresses feelings about the passage of time and perishable life. It warns people to cherish time and life and not to waste precious time on meaningless or trivial things. At the same time, through the description of cicada, it also expresses praise for nature and vitality.