Farewell at Nanpu
At Nanpu we part in sorrow;
The autumn west wind blows gently on.
Each backward look breaks the heart again;
Go safely on—do not look back.
Notes
Nanpu means a southern waterside and can evoke a place of parting. Qīqī conveys sorrow; niǎoniǎo describes the autumn wind blowing gently. “The heart breaks” is figurative. Hǎo qù wishes the traveler well; mò means “do not.”
Meaning
At a waterside farewell, an autumn wind blows. Every backward glance deepens the sorrow, so the speaker wishes the traveler a safe journey and asks them not to look back.
Appreciation
In four short lines, a waterside farewell moves from an autumn breeze to a tender request.
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The place and the word for sorrow establish the mood; the west wind gives the parting a season.
A backward look makes leaving harder. The request not to look back can be read as an attempt to help the traveler go on.
Read together by talking about waving goodbye and choosing a kind wish for someone leaving.
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.