送区弘南归 - 韩愈
Sending Qu Hong Southward - Han Yu
送区弘南归 - 韩愈
Sending Qu Hong Southward - Han Yu
In this eight-line poem attributed to Han Yu, the poet addresses his friend Qu Hong, who is departing for the south. The poem opens with the shared bond formed ‘in the southern lands’—an evocative phrase suggesting that their friendship has flourished under challenging circumstances. As Qu Hong sets off, Han Yu acknowledges the complexities of travel in a time when crossing frontier gates and navigating dusty roads signified both physical and emotional hardship.
Despite its brevity, the poem skillfully weaves images of wide rivers, distant mountains, and the timeless moon to represent both separation and a belief in enduring friendship. ‘A single boat traverses the vast blue river’ conjures up a powerful picture of an individual making his way across an immense, changeable world. Meanwhile, ‘a thousand peaks and a moon lingering deep into the night’ underscores the poignant loneliness felt by those who stay behind.
Yet, the closing couplet moves from sorrow to a tempered optimism—Han Yu urges his friend not to fear the demanding journey and expresses a firm hope in a future reunion. Changsha, a city in the south, symbolizes a place of potential gathering and renewal. This balance between the sadness of parting and the joy of anticipated reunion mirrors a common theme in Tang poetry, reflecting a worldview in which destiny and friendship intertwine across great distances.
For modern readers, “Sending Qu Hong Southward” offers insight into how the Tang literati coped with frequent relocations and official duties. It emphasizes the idea that, even though one’s path may lead far from friends and familiar places, bonds of fellowship remain strong—ready to be rekindled when fate allows. Its enduring charm rests in Han Yu’s portrayal of wistful yearning, tempered by abiding hope.
• Highlights the mingled sorrow and optimism of a friend’s departure.
• Uses natural imagery (rivers, mountains, moonlight) to evoke both loneliness and abiding friendship.
• Reflects the Tang-era experience of frequent travel and official postings.
• Balances the pain of separation with the hope of a future reunion.
Reading it feels a bit like standing by a station platform in modern times, watching a friend board a train—mixed feelings of pride and sadness streaming in the air.
There’s a tender dignity in the poet’s tone, as if he knows that supporting the friend’s choice to journey south outweighs the sorrow of distance.
The lines offer a quiet lesson in letting go gracefully: sometimes, cheering someone on their new path—be it a fresh city, a new career, or a far-flung adventure—can be both an act of love and a soft pang of longing.
The poem echoes with understated warmth, reminding me of the quiet heartbreak that comes when two paths diverge under the same sky.
A gentle glow of farewell illuminates each line, as though the poet’s words wrap around the departing friend like a soft shawl.
Even in an age of instant messaging, we still experience that pang of separation—like the poet, we can’t quite soothe the hush that falls when a friend physically departs.
Compared to Han Yu’s ‘送孟东野序,’ which also treats parting with graceful reflection, this poem feels more personal and subdued, focusing on the individual bond rather than a grand public farewell. Both, however, convey the same reverence for friendship enduring despite distance.
In the aftermath of recent travel restrictions being lifted worldwide, many people are reuniting or parting once again—this poem’s lingering mixture of hope and regret feels especially meaningful in that context.
I’m drawn to how this resonates with today’s global workforce, where relocations for jobs or studies are common. Friends can be scattered across continents, echoing the poem’s soft ache for a travel-bound companion.
Introduction to "The Charge of the Light Brigade""The Charge of the Light Brigade" is a renowned poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson that commemorates the bravery and tragic fa⋯ Read the full article
Overview of the Poem"In Memoriam A.H.H. (VII)" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a poignant elegy that captures the deep sense of loss and longing felt by the poet after the de⋯ Read the full article
In the second section of “In Memoriam A.H.H.,” Alfred, Lord Tennyson grapples directly with the challenge of articulating grief. He acknowledges the inherent paradox of l⋯ Read the full article
The first section of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “In Memoriam A.H.H.” begins his monumental elegy for close friend Arthur Henry Hallam. These lines capture Tennyson’s quest t⋯ Read the full article
The Prologue to Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s In Memoriam A.H.H. sets the spiritual and philosophical tone for the entire poem, which was written in tribute to Tennyson’s close⋯ Read the full article
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” offers a monologue from the legendary hero Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman myth) as he reflects on his life’s achievements and looks ahe⋯ Read the full article
In this poem, John Keats explores the power of imagination—what he calls ‘Fancy’—to uplift the human spirit and transform everyday experience. He begins by highlighting t⋯ Read the full article
John Keats’s short poem “The Human Seasons” draws a direct comparison between the natural cycle of the four seasons and the cyclical changes within the human psyche. He a⋯ Read the full article
John Keats’s sonnet “When I Have Fears” articulates the young poet’s intense anxiety about dying before achieving his artistic and emotional ambitions. Written in the Sha⋯ Read the full article
In Book 3 of John Keats’s “Hyperion,” the action shifts from the despondent councils of the fallen Titans to a stirring invocation of Apollo’s rise. While the first two b⋯ Read the full article
Continuing directly from Book 1, “Hyperion (Book 2)” depicts the fallen Titans grappling with the aftershocks of their defeat at the hands of the Olympian gods. John Keat⋯ Read the full article
John Keats’s “Endymion (Book 2)” continues the quest of the moon-struck shepherd Endymion, weaving together classical myth, romantic longing, and profound imagination. Bu⋯ Read the full article
First published in 1818, John Keats’s *Endymion* is a lengthy, four-book poem exploring the myth of the mortal shepherd Endymion and his love for the moon goddess, Selene⋯ Read the full article
Composed around 1819, “Bright Star” is John Keats’s iconic sonnet addressed to a celestial object—an emblem of unchanging permanence. The speaker wishes he could remain a⋯ Read the full article
John Keats’s “La Belle Dame sans Merci,” first published in 1819, is a haunting ballad that portrays a knight bewitched by a mysterious, otherworldly woman. Told mostly t⋯ Read the full article