By the Lake by Du Fu (or Tu Fu)
The poem 'By the Lake' was written by Chinese historian-poet Du Fu, who lived during the 8th centure Common Era. It was translated to English by David Hilton. The poem is in free verse. It was written in the context of the An Lushan Rebellion (16 December 755 to 17 February 763) - the greatest blow the tang Dynasty ever received, resulting in bloodshed, the fall of an Empire, and mass misery.
In the poem, dominant themes include nostalgia, grief, reminiscence and comparison of past and present. In a line-by-line analysis one sees the secrecy and shame with which the "old fellow" mourns, as he walks by the lake and the locked doors of the waterside palaces, the beauty of the fresh greenery of the willows and rushes - wasted. The speaker recalls how, formerly, the South Park seemed to bloom with a brighter color when the First Lady's carriage rode in. Her eyes gleamed with mirth when her maids of honor shot a bird. In the aftermath of the Rebellion, the twinkle in her eyes and her flashing smile have both vanished. As though a metaphor for the fall of the Empire, the bird is shot down and the Lady laughs, gaily, unaware of what is happening to her Empire.
The speaker notes how her wandering soul cannot make its way back, tainted with bloodshed and the treachery of bloodshed. The dynasties of China were highly concerned with maintaining purity of blood among their officers, to be assured of their loyalty. An Lushan was only half Chinese (and half Turkish). The Chinese dynasties' fears proved to be of substance - An Lushan did betray the Tang Dynasty, and from right under their noses.
Du Fu ends this poem on the sad note that men may feel sorrow and grieve their losses but Nature continues at its own pace. It was springtime, the season of celebration, when the Tang Dynasty fell, and regardless of the mourning and grief of its subjects, nature went on and foreign soldiers continued to ride their horses.
In the poem, dominant themes include nostalgia, grief, reminiscence and comparison of past and present. In a line-by-line analysis one sees the secrecy and shame with which the "old fellow" mourns, as he walks by the lake and the locked doors of the waterside palaces, the beauty of the fresh greenery of the willows and rushes - wasted. The speaker recalls how, formerly, the South Park seemed to bloom with a brighter color when the First Lady's carriage rode in. Her eyes gleamed with mirth when her maids of honor shot a bird. In the aftermath of the Rebellion, the twinkle in her eyes and her flashing smile have both vanished. As though a metaphor for the fall of the Empire, the bird is shot down and the Lady laughs, gaily, unaware of what is happening to her Empire.
The speaker notes how her wandering soul cannot make its way back, tainted with bloodshed and the treachery of bloodshed. The dynasties of China were highly concerned with maintaining purity of blood among their officers, to be assured of their loyalty. An Lushan was only half Chinese (and half Turkish). The Chinese dynasties' fears proved to be of substance - An Lushan did betray the Tang Dynasty, and from right under their noses.
Du Fu ends this poem on the sad note that men may feel sorrow and grieve their losses but Nature continues at its own pace. It was springtime, the season of celebration, when the Tang Dynasty fell, and regardless of the mourning and grief of its subjects, nature went on and foreign soldiers continued to ride their horses.
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