Farewell on the Ancient Plain with Grass - Bai Juyi
/赋得古原草送别 - 白居易/
A Timeless Tribute to Parting and Renewal
离离原上草
Green, green the grass upon the ancient plain
一岁一枯荣
Each year it withers, yet each year it flourishes again
野火烧不尽
Wildfires cannot fully consume it
春风吹又生
And once spring breezes blow, it comes to life anew
远芳侵古道
Its distant fragrance creeps across the old roadway
晴翠接荒城
In bright sunshine, verdant blades reach the deserted walls
又送王孙去
Once more, I bid a friend farewell
萋萋满别情
The luxuriant grass mirrors the depth of parting sorrow
In this poem, Bai Juyi employs the imagery of resilient grass growing on an ancient plain to symbolize parting and renewal. The grass, which continually withers and revives, represents the perennial cycle of life’s gains and losses. Even the threat of wildfires fails to destroy it completely—an apt illustration of how hope may persist despite adversity.
The setting’s expansive greenery rolling across deserted paths and walls suggests a timeless space where friends must eventually part. As the poet sends off a companion (“王孙”), the lush grass reflects both the flourishing bonds of friendship and the sorrow of departure. By likening human emotions to the tenacious growth of grass, Bai Juyi ties personal sentiment to the unstoppable rhythms of nature.
Ultimately, “Farewell on the Ancient Plain with Grass” affirms that even amidst separation and hardship, renewal and hope are never far behind. The unstoppable return of spring hints at emotional continuity: though farewells are painful, they are also woven into the cycle of life, much like the grass that never fails to grow again. Such gentle resilience offers comfort and perspective, reminding us that each goodbye can herald a new beginning—even if we cannot yet see it in the moment of parting.
Key points
1. Nature’s cyclical renewal symbolizes resilience and hope.
2. Farewells, though painful, are part of life’s recurring rhythms.
3. Bai Juyi ties human emotions to the broader natural order, offering solace and perspective.
