Evening Rain: Seeing Li Zhou Off
Over the Chu River falls a fine rain;
At Jianye the evening bells are sounding.
Through mist, approaching sails seem heavy;
In the dimness departing birds fly slowly.
The distant river mouth cannot be seen;
Trees along the shore hold the moisture.
The feeling of farewell has no end;
It wets my clothing like scattered threads of rain.
Notes
Fu de marks a poem composed on a set topic. Jianye is an old name associated with present-day Nanjing. The precise referent of the distant river mouth is debated. The final image compares moisture on clothing with fine threads of rain; it can invite more than one reading of rain and tears.
Meaning
In evening rain, the poet sees Li Zhou off, watching sails, birds and distant shores while expressing parting feelings.
Appreciation
Fine rain and an evening bell establish weather, place and time.
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Heavy sails and slow birds make the damp dimness tangible.
The obscured river mouth and wet trees extend the view into distance.
The wet clothing joins the rain scene to parting without forcing a single reading of rain or tears.
About the poet
Wei Yingwu (c. 737–c. 792) was a Tang poet associated with the area of present-day Xi’an; accounts of his dates differ.
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He served in places including Chuzhou, Jiangzhou and Suzhou, and often wrote about landscape and daily life.
His works include West Stream at Chuzhou and An Autumn Night Sent to Qiu.