十一月四日风雨大作(其二) - 陆游
Eleventh Month, Fourth Day of Fierce Wind and Rain (Part Two) - Lu You
Dreaming of Duty Amid Stormy Nights
僵卧孤村不自哀，
I lie stiffly in a solitary village, yet I feel no self-pity;
尚思为国戍轮台。
Still, I long to guard the frontier for my homeland at Luntai.
夜阑卧听风吹雨，
Late at night, from my bed I listen to the wind and rain;
铁马冰河入梦来。
Then warhorses galloping over frozen rivers charge into my dreams.
Lu You, one of the most renowned poets of the Southern Song Dynasty, wrote this short yet powerful verse at a time when his country was under threat. Despite his advancing age and physical frailty—embodied in the image of lying stiffly in a lonely village—he expresses no self-pity. Instead, he remains filled with ardor to serve the nation, longing to defend the borders at Luntai.
The imagery of wind and rain in the night underscores both the turmoil outside and the poet’s internal unrest. Even in these dark hours, his mind is carried into martial dreams of iron horses charging across frozen rivers, symbolizing his unwavering determination to protect his homeland. This juxtaposition of a quiet, bedridden reality with vivid, heroic visions conveys a sense of patriotism that transcends physical limitation.
Beyond its historical context, the poem resonates with a universal theme: the power of hope and purpose in adversity. Lu You portrays steadfast loyalty and tenacity, urging readers to hold onto their convictions, even in bleak conditions. The poem stands as a concise yet stirring testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience, aspiration, and devotion to a greater cause. Ultimately, it is a call to action—reminding us that while our bodies may be constrained, our determination and sense of duty can continue burning brightly.
Key points
• Enduring hardships does not diminish genuine patriotism or determination.
• Nature’s fierce elements mirror inner conflict and resolve.
• Dreams of heroism can inspire action even in challenging circumstances.
• Lu You’s concise imagery underscores the unyielding human spirit.
Comments
GravityWavSometimes it’s like modern entrepreneurs who endure market storms, illusions overshadowed by harsh economic winds. The poem’s hush-laden heartbreak parallels that sense of forging on, heartbreak subdued yet fueling quiet determination.
Howling PumaA longer commentary: each verse merges nature’s fury with heartbreak, overshadowing illusions undone by the poet’s vow to endure. Under the hush of swirling winds, sorrow doesn’t roar; instead, it finds synergy with the storm. No weeping outcry, just illusions parted overshadowed by fierce gusts that ironically strengthen the poet’s inner calm. This approach highlights how heartbreak can be woven into unstoppable external forces, forging quiet resilience rather than despair. Modern readers sense that parted hopes may be battered by storms, yet overshadowed heartbreak can become a silent ally, building a vow of unwavering steadfastness in the face of nature’s or fate’s upheaval.
Abstract RhythmSometimes it resonates with those who face repeated job losses or relocations, illusions overshadowed by harsh realities. The hush-laden heartbreak in the poem mirrors how parted hopes can stir fierce disappointment, yet also galvanize a vow to keep pressing forward, no matter how strong the downpour.
StarfieldXA crisp hush underlies every verse, as though heartbreak and fierce wind merge into a single vow of quiet perseverance.
Thunder HawkA short reflection: illusions parted overshadow heartbreak in every gust, forging a vow that sorrow will never fully yield, yet never break the poet’s spirit either.
Infinite MirageShort observation: the poet stands firm in the face of howling gusts, illusions parted overshadow heartbreak with a hush-laden vow that sorrow and rain must coexist without toppling his calm resolve.
Wild Blue Cat DenEach line hints at illusions once soaring, now overshadowed by storms that press the poet to endure calmly, forging heartbreak into a tempered resolve rather than a tearful lament.
Cosmic CircuitA middle reflection: it’s reminiscent of ‘十一月四日风雨大作(其一),’ also by Lu You, which likewise welds heartbreak to a stormy scene. Both poems revolve around parted hopes overshadowed by raging skies, but where the earlier piece surges with raw energy, this one channels a quieter hush, letting illusions slip away in subdued acceptance, overshadowed by the poet’s unwavering spirit.
Celestial Pixel SparkA middle note: illusions soared in clearer times, overshadowed now by heartbreak that merges with unyielding downpours, forging acceptance that parted hopes needn’t vanish in bitterness—only in a vow of stoic perseverance.
Celestial Cyber PulseShort impression: each line underscores a vow that heartbreak, overshadowed by raging gusts, remains gentle yet resolute—like a soft ember refusing to die out in the tempest’s midst.
Celestial Cyber PulseAnother middle view: illusions soared under calmer days, overshadowed by heartbreak that blends with the poet’s unwavering hush, forging acceptance that sorrow must coexist with storms of life rather than defeating him.
