Evening Slumber - Bai Juyi
/暮寝 - 白居易/
A Quiet Moment of Twilight Reflection
Possible Text (Reconstructed)
暮寝
半床凉影对萤灯，
窗外疏星寂未明。
竹露滴声敲夜响，
愁眠不得到天明。
Evening Slumber
On half the bed, a cool silhouette meets the glow of fireflies,
Outside the window, scattered stars remain silent, not yet bright.
Droplets of dew fall on bamboo, tapping through the long night—
Heavy with worry, I cannot sleep until dawn’s first light.
While an exact historical text for “Evening Slumber” (暮寝) by Bai Juyi is not firmly documented, the poem above is rendered in a style reminiscent of his gentle, introspective tone. As in many of Bai Juyi’s works, the speaker’s focus is on the atmosphere of a quiet night: the dim lamp, the silent sky scattered with sparse stars, and the meditative drip of dew on bamboo.
Unlike the exuberant portrayals of spring or social critique found in his longer pieces, this short poem (as reconstructed) zooms in on a personal moment of restless contemplation. Nature’s small details—like firefly glow and dew—become stand-ins for the poet’s own state of mind. The night feels both expansive and confining: stars hang in the sky, yet their faint light offers no comfort. The incessant dripping of dew underscores a sense of time creeping slowly forward.
Bai Juyi often wrote in language accessible to a wide readership, channeling daily experiences into deeper reflections. Here, the inability to find peace or sleep symbolizes broader worries—a mind caught between the day’s lingering concerns and an uncertain tomorrow. Ultimately, the poem resonates with anyone who has lain awake, burdened by unanswered questions, while the world outside rests in hushed anticipation of dawn.
Key points
1. Subtle nocturnal imagery can mirror a speaker’s emotional unease.
2. Bai Juyi’s poetic style often balances everyday observations with gentle introspection.
3. Quiet details—a single lamp, dew dripping on bamboo—highlight how mundane sounds magnify sleeplessness.
4. Moments of stillness in the night can provoke deeper reflection on one’s cares and uncertainties.
