94. A Response to 'Sightseeing in Early Spring' by Governor Lu of Jinling

A poem by Du Shenyan, translated by Hyun Woo Kim, and an announcement

Only those who work in government posts and move around

Get especially surprised by things becoming anew as seasons go by.

Out of clouds and glow, the maritime dawn emerges;

Apricot and willow flowers cross over the river’s spring.

The fine air hastens nightingales;

The clear light rolls on green duckweed.

Suddenly, I hear a song, an old melody;

The thought of going back begins to make my handkerchief wet.

「和晉陵陸丞早春游望」

獨有宦游人

偏驚物候新

雲霞出海曙

梅柳渡江春

淑氣催黃鳥

晴光轉綠蘋

忽聞歌古調

歸思欲霑巾

From Hyun Woo:

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas Eve, and we are reading a poem by Du Shenyan. Most likely, you have never of him. But what if I tell you that he is the grandfather of Du Fu? Du Fu even commented that his grandfather’s poems were better than those written by people of the past. He is talking about his own grandfather, so we might have to take his comment with a grain of salt, but Du Shenyan seems to have been a good poet, judging by today’s poem.

The first two lines of the poem pique the reader’s interest: Why do “Only those who work in government posts and move around/Get especially surprised by things becoming anew as seasons go by”? Before a clear answer is given, the reader is led to the next four lines, where the descriptions of a delightful spring day are to be found. Such lines could not have been written if Du Shenyan had not been a keen observer.

Then, the poetic narrator “Suddenly […] hear[s] a song, an old melody”. It is a tune that he knows, which brings back memories and makes him cry, thinking of going back home. Why? It is spring again, and he realizes another year has passed without going home. Now, we understand the first two lines. What a charming poem Du Shenyan manged to write.

It is Christmas time. I hope you are spending time with your family or the people you love. If you aren’t, I hope a poem from another land, another age, and even another season, will comfort you. Du Shenyan, more than a millennium ago, understood what you feel now.

Announcement:

You may remember the reason I have been asking you to become a paid subscriber since the beginning of December. It is because I plan to send out physical postcards in January to the paid subscribers. If you want to get one, you have to become a paid subscriber by the end of December.

This is what the January postcard will look like. Good to look at, and perfect for the New Year. So, why not give your favorite Tang poetry translator (I know I am) a Christmas gift and receive a Classical Chinese poetry postcard at the beginning of 2026? I am confident it will make both of us happy.

If you enjoyed my work, you can buy me a cup of tea. I am not a coffee person, by the way.