A Difficult Road (Part I) - Li Bai
/行路难(其一) - 李白/
An Ode to Life’s Uncertain Journey
金樽清酒斗十千，
In a golden goblet, pristine wine costing tens of thousands per measure,
玉盘珍羞直万钱。
On jade plates, delicacies worth a fortune.
停杯投箸不能食，
I pause my cup, cast aside my chopsticks, unable to eat,
拔剑四顾心茫然。
Draw my sword, gaze around, my heart adrift in confusion.
欲渡黄河冰塞川，
I wish to cross the Yellow River, but ice has locked the stream,
将登太行雪满山。
I would climb Taihang Mountain, yet snow covers the peaks.
闲来垂钓碧溪上，
At leisure, I fish by a crystal creek,
忽复乘舟梦日边。
Suddenly, I dream of sailing to the sun’s edge.
行路难！行路难！
The road is difficult! The road is difficult indeed!
多岐路，今安在？
So many diverging paths—where will they lead now?
长风破浪会有时，
But there will come a time for cleaving waves on a strong wind,
直挂云帆济沧海。
And hoisting cloud-filled sails to cross the boundless sea.
“A Difficult Road (Part I)” is one of Li Bai’s most iconic poems capturing both the despair and resilience of the human spirit. Li Bai begins by portraying a lavish feast of fine wine and sumptuous delicacies—yet even these do not bring solace. In a moment of frustration and bewilderment, he sets aside his cup and sword, revealing his sense of being trapped by life’s challenges.
He then describes encountering barriers in nature: the Yellow River is blocked by ice, and Taihang Mountain is blanketed in snow. These obstacles symbolize the broader difficulties we face in life—roadblocks that seem insurmountable. Despite these trials, Li Bai introduces imagery of fishing at leisure and dreaming of sailing to the sun’s edge, suggesting the power of imagination and the fleeting reprieve it can offer from worldly troubles.
The refrain “The road is difficult!” spotlights a daunting present, but Li Bai’s concluding couplet shifts the poem toward hope. He believes that a time will come to ride the wind and break through waves, ultimately crossing the vast seas of life’s challenges. This reaffirms a central message: while difficulties can feel overwhelming, perseverance and vision can transform hardship into the promise of triumph.
In essence, the poem encourages us to remain steadfast, even when the way ahead seems blocked or uncertain. With resilient determination and a willingness to dream, we too may find our “cloud-filled sails,” guiding us beyond life’s most imposing barriers.
Key points
1. Life’s obstacles can seem overwhelming, yet they are not insurmountable.
2. Moments of uncertainty or despair can transition into renewed hope.
3. Vivid imagination and lofty dreams provide relief and motivation.
4. Perseverance and optimism are essential for overcoming hardships.
5. Even in times of darkness, the promise of new beginnings endures.
