Jian Nan Poetry Drafts (Selected One) - Lu You
/剑南诗稿(选一) - 陆游/
A Reflection on Unyielding Aspirations
书愤
Reflections on My Frustration
早岁那知世事艰，
At youth, who knew the world would prove so harsh?
中原北望气如山。
Northward, I gaze toward the Central Plains; my breath looms tall as mountains.
楼船夜雪瓜洲渡，
Warships move through snowy nights at Gua Zhou’s crossing,
铁马秋风大散关。
While iron cavalry rides the autumn winds through Da San Pass.
塞上长城空自许，
I once vowed to guard our northern ramparts, but all in vain,
镜中衰鬓已先斑。
Now the mirror reveals my hair flecked with silver before I realized it.
出师一表真名世，
A single earnest memorial can achieve timeless renown,
千载谁堪伯仲间？
Yet after a thousand years, who stands beside such heroes?
This selected poem from Lu You’s Jian Nan Poetry Drafts reveals a mind torn between patriotic zeal and the harsh realities of time. The speaker, reflecting from an older vantage point, recalls a youthful idealism—how, in his early years, he did not truly comprehend the complexities of the world. His gaze northward toward the Central Plains symbolizes both a literal yearning for national reconquest and a broader sense of wistfulness for his unachieved dreams.
Lu You uses vivid imagery of warships plowing through snowy nights and iron cavalry galloping in the autumn wind to evoke a sense of martial urgency. These lines underscore how far removed he feels from the heroic endeavors he once hoped to undertake. He had envisioned himself as a guardian of the realm, likening that duty to a protective fortress on the frontier; yet time’s passage, visible in his greying hair, has revealed these ambitions to be unfulfilled.
The final couplet refers to the storied legacy of heroic figures—like Zhuge Liang, who wrote the legendary “Memorial on Dispatching Troops.” It underscores how a single act of sincere dedication can crystallize a name forever in history. By posing the question of who, after a thousand years, could stand equal to such greatness, Lu You highlights the sorrow and humility he feels at not measuring up to these admired paragons.
Taken as a whole, the poem resonates with themes of loyalty, regret, and the relentless flow of time. It is a poignant snapshot of a patriot who measures his life against grand ideals, only to find that life’s trials and aging body have restrained him. Yet the poem remains inspirational: the depth of feeling reminds readers that the yearning to serve, to fight for worthy causes, and to leave one’s mark on history can remain undimmed, even if it ultimately goes unrealized.
Key points
• Youthful ideals often clash with life’s practical limits.
• Martial imagery accentuates the poet’s intense patriotic longing.
• Aging and regret highlight how passing time can thwart even the strongest ambitions.
• Despite unfulfilled aims, the sincerity of devotion endures as a beacon of hope.