Farewell on the Ancient Plain
Thick grows the grass upon the plain;
Each year it withers and flourishes again.
Wildfire cannot burn it all away;
The spring breeze brings it back to life.
Fragrant grasses reach into the ancient road;
In clear weather their green meets the deserted town.
Once more I see a traveler off;
The lush grass is full of parting feelings.
Notes
Fùdé marks a poem composed on an assigned subject. Lílí describes thick growth; kūróng means withering and flourishing. “Fragrant growth” refers to grass. Wángsūn here can mean a departing traveler, not necessarily royalty. Qīqī describes lush vegetation.
Meaning
Grass on the plain withers and returns each year. It grows again after fire; its green reaches the old road and deserted town. The speaker then bids a traveler farewell, seeing the parting mood in the lush grass.
Appreciation
The poem follows grass across an ancient plain before arriving at a farewell.
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The first four lines observe yearly change and the grass growing again after fire; they do not deny that it also withers.
The view expands to an old road and a deserted town. At the end the thick grass seems to hold the feeling of parting.
Look at grass together and think of a kind way to say goodbye to a friend.
About the poet
Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian, was a Tang poet and official born near present-day Xinzheng, Henan.
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His works include Song of the Pipa Player, Song of Everlasting Sorrow and many poems about daily life.
Sources
Poem and reading reference: Shicile · Poet biography reference · poems-db
Translation and explanations by Poetry Buds; review ongoing.