Black Robe Lane
Wild grasses flower beside Vermilion Bird Bridge;
The evening sun slants across Black Robe Lane.
The swallows once before the halls of Wang and Xie
Now fly into the homes of ordinary people.
Notes
Vermilion Bird Bridge and Black Robe Lane are associated with historic Jinling, now Nanjing. Wang and Xie were prominent Eastern Jin families. The swallows connect past and present as a poetic image.
Meaning
At an old lane, wild growth and evening light frame swallows imagined moving from former aristocratic halls to ordinary homes.
Appreciation
Bridge, wild growth, lane and evening light create a quiet, specific setting.
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The swallows join past and present, placing former aristocratic halls beside ordinary homes.
They are a poetic bridge across time rather than a literal claim about the life of one bird.
The poem evokes historical change without stating a lengthy judgment.
About the poet
Liu Yuxi (772–842), courtesy name Mengde, was a Tang poet and official whose career included long periods in regional posts.
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His writings include Black Robe Lane, Bamboo Branch Songs and prose essays.