客中行 - 李白
Traveling as a Stranger - Li Bai
Savoring Fine Wine while Distant from Home
兰陵美酒郁金香
Lanling’s fine wine, fragrant like sweet orchids
玉碗盛来琥珀光
In a jade bowl, it shimmers with an amber glow
但使主人能醉客
When the host can make his guest thoroughly drunk
不知何处是他乡
He forgets all about being far from home
In this short poem, Li Bai highlights the allure of fine wine and gracious hospitality as a remedy for the pangs of homesickness. Through rich imagery—‘fragrant like sweet orchids’ and ‘shimmers with an amber glow’—he evokes a sense of delight that transcends the sadness of being away. The focal point is not longing but the uplifting power of communal revelry, where shared warmth and merriment blur the lines between familiar and foreign. Each line underscores wine’s symbolic role in uniting strangers and dissolving social or geographical barriers. Ultimately, this poem affirms that human connection, paired with the simple act of raising a glass, can transform an unfamiliar place into a momentary home. In just four lines, Li Bai captures a timeless lesson: by embracing the joys of the present and forging bonds of camaraderie, we can ease our hearts from the weight of distance and alienation.
Key points
• Wine as a unifying force in distant lands
• Hospitality and shared delight alleviate homesickness
• Vivid sensory details highlight comfort and pleasure
• The poem celebrates momentary escape through communal joy
Comments
Loyal Gold WolfHe balances the excitement of traveling with an undercurrent of wistfulness, reminding us that experiencing the unknown always comes at the cost of leaving something familiar behind.
Digital DawnContrasted with Wang Wei’s calm approach to nature, Li Bai infuses his lines with an undercurrent of wanderlust and restless energy. (C3)
Bold Blue Fox DenIn an era when many people relocate for work or study, “客中行” rings especially true. Even centuries later, longing for home isn’t diminished by technology. (N2)
Solar FalconCompared to Li Bai’s own “黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵,” which focuses on parting from a friend, “客中行” highlights the traveler’s perspective of being the one who leaves, uncertain yet hopeful. (C2)
Solar FalconToday’s world of digital nomads still reflects Li Bai’s struggles. We have laptops and Wi-Fi, but that ache for home remains the same. (N1)
CyberNinjaEven in its brevity, the poem conjures images of distant horizons and the ache of being far from familiar comforts. There’s a sense of exhilaration in exploring new places, but also that gentle pull of the homeland left behind. Li Bai’s lines are so vivid, you can practically taste the dust of the road and sense the poet’s yearning for companionship in foreign lands. It’s beautiful how he finds poetry in both the freedom and the loneliness of the traveler’s path.
Red FalconIt’s a poem about traveling, yet Li Bai weaves a subtle longing into every line.
Lunar TigerIn these post-pandemic times, many are venturing out with mixed emotions—excitement to travel again, but uncertainty about new normals. “客中行” captures that timeless blend of eager exploration and subtle apprehension. (N4)
Cyber DreamSometimes I think of modern business travelers zipping through airports. They have the convenience of planes and hotels, but the poem’s sense of lonely displacement persists. (N3)
Luminous Quantum EchoCompared to Du Fu’s “旅夜书怀,” where the feeling of separation is heavier, Li Bai’s verses here carry a slightly lighter, more adventurous tone. (C1)
PlutoArcanReading “客中行” makes me feel like I’m stepping into Li Bai’s shoes, brimming with curiosity but also tinged by homesickness.
Cosmic ArrowHe paints a moving portrait of an internal struggle: the lure of the road clashes with memories of home, and the poem glimmers with that tension.
GalactiCorShort yet powerful: it captures that tug-of-war between the thrill of new sights and the quiet pang for what’s left behind.
AbyssWalkeThe poem’s few words shimmer with a quiet longing, as though each step forward on the journey also echoes one backward glance at the life left behind.
