鸟鸣涧 - 王维
Birdsong Brook - Wang Wei
A Quiet Night Broken by a Sudden Call
人闲桂花落，
When people rest, osmanthus petals drift downward,
夜静春山空。
Night is hushed, and spring mountains lie empty.
月出惊山鸟，
A moonrise startles the mountain birds,
时鸣春涧中。
From time to time, their calls echo in the spring ravine.
In “Birdsong Brook,” Wang Wei offers a delicate portrait of a tranquil spring evening in the mountains. The poet begins by underscoring human idleness—people at rest—while osmanthus blossoms silently drift to the ground. This quiet scene is further emphasized by the notion that the hills themselves seem ‘empty,’ emphasizing how nature often continues its own rhythms in peaceful isolation.
Night and calm dominate the first half of the poem, setting a serene tone that lulls the reader into a sense of gentle stillness. Then, Wang Wei skillfully introduces the moon rising—a brilliant yet subtle act that unexpectedly startles the nearby birds. Their calls reverberate through the ravine, adding a brief moment of liveliness amid otherwise complete stillness.
By merging the hush of the setting with the sudden flashes of activity, Wang Wei highlights the harmony between solitude and the faintest stir of life. This blending of tranquility and fleeting liveliness mirrors key themes in Tang poetry and the poet’s own contemplative sensibility. The poem invites readers to find meaning in quiet observation, suggesting that even in moments of near silence, nature’s gentle presence speaks volumes—if we only pause to listen.
Key points
Wang Wei’s poem illustrates that stillness in nature can evoke profound reflections. The contrast between the silent, empty night and the startled birdsong serves as a reminder that small, unexpected moments can awaken our awareness. In this interplay of hush and call, we glimpse the quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed.
Comments
Swift Green Fox DenLong: If you compare this to Du Fu’s heavier social commentaries, ‘鸟鸣涧’ feels utterly focused on personal quietude. Du Fu’s lines often carry the weight of political turmoil, while Wang Wei here chooses an intimate corner of the wilderness, seemingly untouched by worldly strife. It’s as if the poet were saying that despite the chaos of life outside the valley, one can still find profound solace in the simplest occurrences—like a single bird’s voice echoing through empty air. That timeless lesson feels relevant today, when constant news feeds and notifications can drown out our mental peace. Reading this poem is a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and let nature’s small signals guide us to deeper calm.
Wild FalconShort: In our digital era of constant pings, this poem’s quiet birdcall stands out like a welcome whisper.
Mystic Urban DriftShort: Wang Wei’s gentle reverence for the natural world is calming, like stepping into a dew-kissed morning.
SolarEclipMedium: The poem’s restrained imagery mirrors an almost spiritual tranquility, hinting at Wang Wei’s Buddhist leanings. I can imagine the dusk light fading among the trees, with the lone bird creating a bridge between nature’s calm and human contemplation.
CosmicBlazMedium: Compared to Wang Wei’s ‘竹里馆,’ ‘鸟鸣涧’ feels more meditative. ‘竹里馆’ situates us in a bamboo grove with a gentle zither, while ‘鸟鸣涧’ narrows our focus to the single sound of a bird in a quiet ravine. Both poems share that subtle Zen-like quality, but here, the bird’s call is more haunting, making me sense a deeper stillness behind the poet’s observations.
Tiny Lime Ant HillShort: Each line glows with the soft hush of evening, as if the forest itself were exhaling.
Digital Solar FlareLong: Placing ‘鸟鸣涧’ beside Li Bai’s soaring verses, I notice Wang Wei’s preference for subtlety. Where Li Bai might extol the moon or intoxicated heights, Wang Wei’s focus is the hush of a valley at dusk, pierced by a solitary birdcall. It’s less about the grand spectacle and more about that profound stillness. That gentle approach draws me into the scene, as if I’m standing by a trickling stream, listening for the flutter of wings in the twilight. The contrast between these two styles shows the range of Tang poetry—one capturing celebratory grandeur, the other embracing the quietly sacred moments of nature’s daily rhythms.
Cobalt RocketShort: In an age when we chase distractions, the poem’s sole birdcall reminds me to treasure nature’s simple wonders.
