Ziye Wuge (No. 1) - Li Bai
/子夜吴歌(其一) - 李白/
Reverie of Spring’s Fresh Blossoms
秦地罗敷女
In the land of Qin lived a beauty named Luo Fu,
采桑绿水边
She picked mulberries by the green waterside.
素手青条上
Her fair hands parted the slender leaves,
红妆白日鲜
Her rosy cheeks glowed bright under the sun.
蚕饥妾欲去
As the silkworms hunger, I must go now,
五马莫留连
So do not linger with your five-horse carriage.
In this poem, Li Bai portrays a young woman named Luo Fu gathering mulberries by a green riverbank—an image saturated with spring vitality. Her refined gestures and radiant complexion suggest youth, grace, and an elegant allure. Drawing on the broader tradition of folk songs, Li Bai retains the simplicity of everyday life, yet elevates it through vivid, poetic language. The mention of the "five-horse carriage" symbolizes status or desire, hinting at a potential suitor or official who wishes her to stay. However, the speaker emphasizes that necessity and natural duty—represented by feeding the silkworms—cannot be postponed. This gentle tension between mundane tasks and fleeting romantic connection underlines the poem’s central theme: while beauty and attraction might momentarily bloom, time and everyday responsibilities prevail. Through delicate imagery and a graceful narrative, Li Bai merges the picturesque with a subtle reflection on how momentary encounters must often yield to the rhythms of daily life.
Key points
Readers gain insight into the beauty of simple springtime imagery, the transience of fleeting encounters, and the persistent call of everyday responsibilities.
