Hearing That Our Forces Have Retaken Henan and Hebei - Du Fu
/闻官军收河南河北 - 杜甫/
Rejoicing in Freed Lands and a Renewed Sense of Home
剑外忽传收蓟北，
Beyond the Sword Gate, we suddenly hear that Jibei has been reclaimed;
初闻涕泪满衣裳。
Upon first hearing, tears stream down, soaking my clothes.
却看妻子愁何在？
Then I glance at my wife and children—where is their worry now?
漫卷诗书喜欲狂。
Rolling up my books of verse, I’m so overjoyed I could go mad.
白日放歌须纵酒，
In broad daylight, I raise my voice in song, letting the wine flow freely;
青春作伴好还乡。
Springtime as my companion—how sweet the journey home!
即从巴峡穿巫峡，
Straight from the Ba Gorges through the Wu Gorges,
便下襄阳向洛阳。
Then downstream to Xiangyang, bound at last for Luoyang.
This poem by Du Fu resonates with the exuberant relief felt when hearing that Tang forces have reclaimed regions of Henan and Hebei during a period of political upheaval. The poet, exiled from his homeland, expresses his uncontainable joy upon learning the news: tears flow uncontrollably as the weight of worry suddenly lifts. Du Fu contrasts the severe anxiety experienced before this announcement with the almost delirious happiness that overtakes him in its aftermath.
The imagery reveals his eagerness to celebrate and reconnect with home. He mentions rolling up his poetry books—suggesting that even the intellectual pursuits he loves pale in comparison to the thrill of national recovery and family security. The wine he drinks in daylight symbolizes a spontaneous release of emotion, unburdened by conventional restraints. The spring scenery represents renewal, reflecting both the rejuvenation of the state and the poet’s personal optimism.
Geographical references to Ba Gorges, Wu Gorges, Xiangyang, and Luoyang capture a homeward journey, infused with the poet’s longing to see familiar landscapes and loved ones. At this moment of triumph, Du Fu’s usual meditations on suffering and hardship give way to exuberance and hope. Yet the poem also underscores his awareness that such moments of reprieve can be fleeting; they are all the more precious for having been so long denied.
Ultimately, the poem portrays an emotional turning point, where collective victory and personal joy intersect. Du Fu’s words illuminate how deeply national conflicts affect the individual spirit, while offering a timeless reminder of how quickly despair can transform into celebration with a single piece of good news.
Key points
• Victory over turmoil can bring powerful emotional release.
• Personal joy is often intertwined with broader national events.
• Nature and travel imagery underscore renewal and the joy of returning home.
• A single stroke of good news can dissolve accumulated grief and despair.
