Thinking of Xin Da at the South Pavilion on a Summer Evening
Sunlight on the hills suddenly sinks west;
The moon above the pond slowly rises east.
With hair loose, I enjoy the evening cool;
I open the window and rest in the airy room.
A breeze over lotus brings fragrance;
Dew drops from bamboo with a clear sound.
I wish to take my qin and play,
But regret that no understanding listener is here.
Moved by this, I think of my old friend;
Through the night my thoughts return to him.
Notes
The exact location of the South Pavilion and identity of Xin Da are not certain. The qin is a stringed instrument; a knowing listener appreciates the music and the player. The closing speaks of thoughts during the night.
Meaning
On a cool summer evening, lotus fragrance and bamboo dew lead the poet to think of playing the qin and missing a friend.
Appreciation
The setting sun and rising moon mark the movement from evening into night.
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Loose hair, an open window and rest make the relief of cool air tangible.
Lotus fragrance and dripping dew bring smell and sound into the quiet scene.
The wish to play without an understanding listener leads naturally to the absent friend.
About the poet
Meng Haoran (689–740) was a Tang poet from the area of present-day Xiangyang, Hubei.
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He traveled widely and wrote about landscapes, rural life and journeys.
He is often associated with Wang Wei; his surviving works include Spring Morning, Passing an Old Friend’s Farm, and Mooring on the Jiande River.