Waves Scouring Sand: The Yellow River
The winding Yellow River carries sand for ten thousand miles;
Waves wash and winds toss it from the edge of the sky.
Now let us travel straight up to the Milky Way,
And visit the homes of the Cowherd and the Weaver.
Notes
Làngtáoshā is the title of a series. “Nine bends” describes a winding course; the number need not be literal. Waves and winds toss the river along. The Cowherd and Weaver are figures in a story associated with the Milky Way.
Meaning
The Yellow River winds from a far horizon, carrying sand through wind and waves. The speaker imagines following it up to the Milky Way and the home of the Cowherd and Weaver.
Appreciation
The poem begins with the immense Yellow River and then imagines a journey from earth to the Milky Way.
Read the full appreciationCollapse
Its winding course and great distance are expressed through large numbers, which need not be read as measurements.
The last lines link the river to a familiar story about the Cowherd and Weaver, turning observation into imaginative travel.
Draw a winding river and a trail of stars together, then imagine where they might meet.
About the poet
Liu Yuxi (772–842), courtesy name Mengde, was a Tang poet and official whose career included long periods in regional posts.
Read about the poetCollapse
His writings include Black Robe Lane, Bamboo Branch Songs and prose essays.
Sources
Poem and reading reference: Shicile · Poet biography reference · poems-db
Translation and explanations by Poetry Buds; review ongoing.