筹笔驿 - 李商隐
Chou Bi Post Station - Li Shangyin
A Poignant Reflection on Vanished Aspirations and Present Sorrows
猿啼客散暮江头
At dusk along the riverbank, gibbons cry, and guests drift away
人自伤心水自流
A man’s heart aches with sorrow, while the waters flow on unceasingly
同是轩车何异路
Though once sharing stately carriages, how divergent our paths have become
如今憔悴怕逢侯
Now so worn and weary, I dread the thought of meeting any noble lord
“Chou Bi Post Station” is traditionally associated with the ruins linked to famed strategist Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms era (though direct references to him may be subtle). In these lines, Li Shangyin frames an evening scene by a river: gibbon cries evoke both the remoteness of the setting and the speaker’s sense of abandonment. The water’s ceaseless flow contrasts starkly with human fragility, underscoring how even the strongest ambitions and alliances eventually dissolve in the current of time.
The poem’s focus then shifts to changes in fortune. “Though once sharing stately carriages, how divergent our paths have become” implies that former companions or leaders, who started with similar opportunities, now find themselves on radically different trajectories. By the final line, the poet concedes his own weariness—an almost existential dread—toward encountering any figure of power, perhaps for fear that such encounters might reopen wounds or highlight his fallen state.
In just four lines, Li Shangyin manages to capture a blend of historical reflection, personal lament, and philosophical commentary on impermanence. The poem resonates with anyone who has watched plans dissolve and wonders why some prosper while others fade. Its succinct yet powerful imagery points to a universal truth: external might and fleeting alliances cannot protect one from the inexorable tides of fortune and time.
Key points
1. The natural world, in its steady rhythms, offers a stark reminder of human transience.
2. Once-shared ambitions can diverge drastically, illuminating life’s unpredictable fates.
3. Weariness and apprehension toward power reflect Li Shangyin’s nuanced view of court politics and personal fragility.
Comments
Grim GorillaComparing ‘筹笔驿’ to Li Shangyin’s ‘Night Rain’ poems, I see a similar melancholic grace in their shared sense of longing. Yet in ‘筹笔驿,’ the poet’s voice feels more tinged with historical awareness—there’s an echo of a bygone era’s grandeur, now eroded by time and regret. Each line carries a hushed reverence for what once was, subtly lamenting the distance between past glory and present reflection. What stands out most is the poet’s gentle approach to sorrow, weaving it through careful phrases rather than overt laments. As I read, I picture dimly lit corridors and the faint scent of old ink, as though Li Shangyin is inviting us to step into the silent spaces where memories, once precious, now linger like ghosts. This poem leaves me with a tender ache, a reminder of how the greatest achievements may fade, but the emotional weight of their passing can still ripple through the ages.
Electric HawkThere’s something quietly haunting about this poem’s unfolding sadness, as though each line echoes a distant farewell.
Mild Black Ant DenThe quiet intensity of ‘筹笔驿’ lingers in my mind, hinting at unspoken histories and regrets.
Silent KnightIt’s almost akin to Bai Juyi’s ‘Song of Everlasting Regret,’ where deep emotion and historical undercurrents mingle, though Li Shangyin’s approach is more hushed and introspective.
QuantumMaxReading ‘筹笔驿’ reminds me of Du Fu’s ‘Spring View,’ although the tone here is more introspective and personal. Both poems use delicate images of time passing and a world in flux, urging the reader to reflect on what has been lost or changed. While Du Fu’s verse confronts societal upheavals, Li Shangyin’s lines feel softer, as though he’s dwelling on how the smallest memories can hold powerful echoes of sorrow and longing.
MysticForcI’m struck by how the poem’s sense of disappointment resonates with our modern reaction to sudden global events—unexpected disruptions remind us that history’s grand tides still reach into our daily lives.
Echo DuskWhen placed beside Li Shangyin’s ‘Untitled’ poems, ‘筹笔驿’ carries a more subdued atmosphere, quietly suggesting the poet’s reflection on passing time and the fleeting nature of worldly power. In the ‘Untitled’ pieces, there’s often an undercurrent of romantic yearning, but here the focus feels more like a solemn contemplation of how easily fortunes shift. It’s as though Li Shangyin is whispering about the fragility of dreams, and the poignant awareness that all things must eventually fade.
Light EagleI can’t help but compare this to Li Bai’s ‘Quiet Night Thought’—both poems, in their own way, evoke a gentle nostalgia for something just out of reach.
Atomic TigerIt’s fascinating how Li Shangyin captures a sense of history’s fading echoes within a few carefully chosen phrases, leaving me with a contemplative hush that lasts long after I’ve read the final line.
Foxy Blue Dog Den‘筹笔驿’ also brings to mind Li Bai’s ‘Chang Gan Song,’ yet the personal tone here differs. While ‘Chang Gan Song’ focuses on marital devotion over time, Li Shangyin’s poem suggests a more solitary reflection on bygone hopes. It’s as if we’re walking through the poet’s memories, guided by his subdued regret at grand possibilities slipping away. Even though centuries have passed, the poem’s mood of lingering sorrow feels deeply relatable—few things resonate more than the realization that even the best-laid plans can dissolve into shadows. And still, there’s a strange comfort in this gentle mourning, as if acknowledging the transience of fortune and ambition frees us to cherish the fragile beauty in what remains.
