I love the poem and see only opposition to Mayakovsky. Li Bai asserts life; tomorrow, he 'craves to climb the blue sky" and will "woo a little boat." Mayakovsky leaves life behind, committing suicide; his love life is broken because of daily life.
Indeed, they chose different paths. Li Bai was under less stress, but sometimes, I think it's the difference in characters that ultimately determines the end.
Oh, you are right; the opposition can carry in itself the united element. I proceeded from the poem's content and my knowledge of Mayakovsky's life. I don't know Li Bai's character or his life, but the difference in time between them- the centuries.
I just can't see a parallel between Ancient Chinese poet and modern Soviet poet life, who committed suicide not only because of love but also for political reasons.
I feel you. All our struggles may be either an attempt to force our will on the world or force His will on ourselves. They might not contradict each other, though. I've been reading Gintanjali these days, and the thirty-eighth poem goes:
"That I want thee, only thee—let my heart repeat without end. All desires that distract me, day and night, are false and empty to the core.
As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light, even thus in the depth of my unconsciousness rings the cry—I want thee, only thee.
As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes against peace with all its might, even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry is—I want thee, only thee."
I am obviously reading this through a Christian lens, but there is some comfort in affirming that "even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry is—I want thee, only thee." Tagore was a Hindu but followed a branch of Hinduism reformed under the influences of Christianity and Islam. He quite often sounds like a follower of an Abrahamic religion, non-trinitarian, pantheist sort.
Goodness thank you so much Hyon Woo! that is amazing! I am very touched. And of course I love this poem too. How could anyone not love the great Li Bai?
Thanks, Ramya! It could have been casually translated as something like 'I will have fun with a little boat' or 'I will play with a little boat', but the original word 弄 often carries the nuance of romantic/sexual tension, as in a man wooing a woman.
Shalom Hyun Woo! Lovely poem, as usual! Your commentary is "especially special"! Regards to Uncle Yun! By the way, "Uncle" in modern Chinese seems to be a fairly common term of endearment used for an elderly friend or a distant relative. Maybe Li-Bai's Uncle Yun was not his real uncle?
I hope you will share some direct news about S. Korea's tragic wildfires, and I hope you were not personally affected!
Shalom! I think it is possible that Uncle Yun was not Li Bai's uncle by blood. I am not sure if the original word 叔 was used during the Tang dynasty as in modern times, though. Oh and to my luck, the wildfires did not affect me, but I know some people who were.
Thank you for introducing me to a good poet! I doubt it was communism that turned Mayakovsky's heart to ashes and corrupted his talent, though. I mean, in a sense, it did ruin his life, from outside, but it seems to me some people require a certain idea to burn the world with, or their life and talent... Without the revolution, he wouldn't have been that much of a great poet, and I believe he could have been a talented Fascist poet as well.
Agreed. Mayakovsky was a radical and a revolutionary, in politics, and in poetry. He would have been a good fighter in the service of whatever radical and revolutionary cause he adopted, including fascism! Once the revolution ends, as they always do, and it turns into a dictatorship and a bureaucracy, as they always do, free and fiery spirits like Mayakovsky cannot survive. They either go off to find new causes to serve somewhere else, or they wither away and die where they are.
this made me laugh out loud (although it seems true): It seems the best way to get a poem dedicated to you from him is to befriend him first and then say that you should leave at some point.
I love the poem and see only opposition to Mayakovsky. Li Bai asserts life; tomorrow, he 'craves to climb the blue sky" and will "woo a little boat." Mayakovsky leaves life behind, committing suicide; his love life is broken because of daily life.
Indeed, they chose different paths. Li Bai was under less stress, but sometimes, I think it's the difference in characters that ultimately determines the end.
Oh, you are right; the opposition can carry in itself the united element. I proceeded from the poem's content and my knowledge of Mayakovsky's life. I don't know Li Bai's character or his life, but the difference in time between them- the centuries.
I just can't see a parallel between Ancient Chinese poet and modern Soviet poet life, who committed suicide not only because of love but also for political reasons.
I shall be blessed to drink with you, sir.
A fantastic job, as usual. The penultimate line hit with crystal clarity today, as I juggle many less-than-preferable things to make ends meet.
I feel you. All our struggles may be either an attempt to force our will on the world or force His will on ourselves. They might not contradict each other, though. I've been reading Gintanjali these days, and the thirty-eighth poem goes:
"That I want thee, only thee—let my heart repeat without end. All desires that distract me, day and night, are false and empty to the core.
As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light, even thus in the depth of my unconsciousness rings the cry—I want thee, only thee.
As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes against peace with all its might, even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry is—I want thee, only thee."
I am obviously reading this through a Christian lens, but there is some comfort in affirming that "even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry is—I want thee, only thee." Tagore was a Hindu but followed a branch of Hinduism reformed under the influences of Christianity and Islam. He quite often sounds like a follower of an Abrahamic religion, non-trinitarian, pantheist sort.
Goodness thank you so much Hyon Woo! that is amazing! I am very touched. And of course I love this poem too. How could anyone not love the great Li Bai?
Exactly! Who can possibly not love him?
The parallelism between Li Bai and Mayakovsky is brilliantly thought.
Thank you!
I love this phrase "I will woo a little boat" and the parallel you draw to that line by Mayakovsky! Thank you for this lovely translation, Hyun Woo.
Thanks, Ramya! It could have been casually translated as something like 'I will have fun with a little boat' or 'I will play with a little boat', but the original word 弄 often carries the nuance of romantic/sexual tension, as in a man wooing a woman.
Thank you! I love tea and will aim to drink it while reading poetry!
Thank YOU! Hope you enjoy it.
"I crave to climb to the blue sky and look around the sun and the moon." Just so great.
Not everyone with a great ambition becomes a great poet, but every great poet has a great ambition, it seems.
That was really nice. 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it!
Whenever I think of Li Bai I sigh because that’s how he makes me feel and how I’d describe his life.
舉頭望明月， 低頭思故鄉。
Indeed. The question is, whether he had ever felt that he had a true 故鄉 in this world. He was a 謫仙.
BS"D
Shalom Hyun Woo! Lovely poem, as usual! Your commentary is "especially special"! Regards to Uncle Yun! By the way, "Uncle" in modern Chinese seems to be a fairly common term of endearment used for an elderly friend or a distant relative. Maybe Li-Bai's Uncle Yun was not his real uncle?
I hope you will share some direct news about S. Korea's tragic wildfires, and I hope you were not personally affected!
Shalom! I think it is possible that Uncle Yun was not Li Bai's uncle by blood. I am not sure if the original word 叔 was used during the Tang dynasty as in modern times, though. Oh and to my luck, the wildfires did not affect me, but I know some people who were.
"I crave to climb to the blue sky and look around the sun and the moon."
The Olympian ambition of the poet!
It reminds of Clark Ashton Smith’s evocation of the poet's lust to express the greatness of what he sees and feels:
To pace the sun's Typhoean ramparts vast!
To couch on Saturns's outmost ring, or roll
With Pluto through his orb of eventide
Whose Hesper is the dwindled sun!
Alas, poor Mayakovsky! He put his heart into Communism, and it turned his heart to ashes and corrupted his talent.
Power and poetry are poor companions.
Earl Shorris wrote a little book called Power Sits at Another Table.
It is made up of short aphorisms, but it can be read as poetry.
One line I have always liked was:
The surface of power is polished stone.
Mayakovsky was crushed by that polished stone.
Thank you for introducing me to a good poet! I doubt it was communism that turned Mayakovsky's heart to ashes and corrupted his talent, though. I mean, in a sense, it did ruin his life, from outside, but it seems to me some people require a certain idea to burn the world with, or their life and talent... Without the revolution, he wouldn't have been that much of a great poet, and I believe he could have been a talented Fascist poet as well.
Agreed. Mayakovsky was a radical and a revolutionary, in politics, and in poetry. He would have been a good fighter in the service of whatever radical and revolutionary cause he adopted, including fascism! Once the revolution ends, as they always do, and it turns into a dictatorship and a bureaucracy, as they always do, free and fiery spirits like Mayakovsky cannot survive. They either go off to find new causes to serve somewhere else, or they wither away and die where they are.
this made me laugh out loud (although it seems true): It seems the best way to get a poem dedicated to you from him is to befriend him first and then say that you should leave at some point.