春宿左省 Spring Night at the Left Court

花隐掖垣暮，啾啾栖鸟过。

^{huā yǐn yè yuán mù ， jiū jiū qī niǎo guò 。}

星临万户动，月傍九霄多。

^{xīng lín wàn hù dòng ， yuè bàng jiǔ xiāo duō 。}

不寝听金钥，因风想玉珂。

^{bù qǐn tīng jīn yuè ， yīn fēng xiǎng yù kē 。}

明朝有封事，数问夜如何。

^{míng zhāo yǒu fēng shì ， shù wèn yè rú hé 。}

Background

This five-character regulated poem was written in the first year of Tang Emperor Suzong's Qianyuan era (乾元元年) (758 AD). In the second year of the Zhengde (至德二载) era (757 AD) in September, the Tang army recaptured the capital Chang'an from the Anshi rebels. In October, Suzong returned to the capital from Fengxiang (凤翔), and Du Fu, still serving as Left Minister of Rites (左拾遗), traveled from Fuzhou to the capital. During the Tang dynasty, the Left Minister of Rites was responsible for offering advice and criticism, dealing with major court affairs, and handling memorial petitions on minor matters.

Overview

This poem captures the author's feelings before submitting a memorial to the emperor during a night shift at the Ministry of Rites. It demonstrates his devotion, commitment, and patriotism toward his public responsibilities.

Eight lines make up the poem, the first four of which describe the scenario at the ministry and the last four of which represent the author's feelings. The narration is thorough and varied, with the scenes depicted being bright and vivid.

This highlights the regulated verse of Du Fu's rigid yet adaptable poetic structure and its deep yet subdued signature style.

Line Breakdown

花隐掖垣暮，啾啾栖鸟过。

Amidst the flowers hidden by the palace walls, As evening falls, the chirping of birds can be heard.

The "Left Province"'s surroundings at the start of the night shift are described in the first line. At first, it appears to be an offhand remark, yet the poem's structure is actually rigid and carefully planned.

First, it depicts the situation as it appears to the poet: the flowers blooming in the "Left Province" are just barely discernible in the evening's rapidly dimming light, while birds sleeping in the trees pass past with their chirping sounds, vividly and accurately capturing the natural world.

Second, it draws attention to the poem's theme: the description of the flowers and birds conjures up the springtime, yet the "hidden flowers"' condition and the birds' chirping are connected to the dusk scene, which is connected to the poet's night shift. The emphasis on the usage of each word to reflect the theme of the poem is a show of Du Fu's poetic mastery. 

星临万户动，月傍九霄多。

The stars shine upon the myriad homes, And the moon accompanies the celestial sphere.

The next sentence, which covers the nighttime panorama from dark to morning, begins by describing how the starry sky cast a flickering light on the palace's numerous entrances and windows. The palace is described as soaring far into the skies and bathed in abundant moonlight in the couplet's second line.

These two sentences are masterfully composed, featuring precisely matched antithesis, vivid illustrations, and an underlying allusion to the grandeur of imperial power. Each phrase carries numerous layers of significance, blending seamlessly with the abstract ideas and concrete visuals. As the "pivot words" (句眼) of the line, the words "movement" (动) and "ample" (多) in particular are used to enhance the couplet's emotional effect. The couplet's structure easily transitions from describing the environment to conveying emotion, acting as a link between the two.

不寝听金钥，因风想玉珂。

 Unable to sleep, I listen to the sound of the golden key, As if the wind whispers of the jade tablet.

This line illustrates a night-shift scenario. In the two lines, it is explained that the poet, who is on night duty, is unable to sleep and that he imagines hearing the sound of the palace gate being opened with a golden key and the sound of bells ringing on the eaves being blown by the wind, as though hearing the officials riding their horses to the morning court.

All of them are made up, yet they effectively capture the poet's serious and responsible attitude toward his work and his fear of delaying the morning court. The poet's feelings are meticulously and creatively captured in this representation. The author took a different technique, demonstrating profound meaning and an ethereal writing style by using the phrase "not sleeping" to describe the poet's psychological activity while on duty. The couplet was originally intended to further integrate the character "lodging" (宿) into the poem.

明朝有封事，数问夜如何。

For tomorrow, I am tasked with a royal matter, And so I query the night's passage, anxious as ever.

The following line continues to portray the poet's attitude while on duty by revealing the cause of the insomnia. He is expected to deliver a memorial the next morning, which stresses him out and causes him to get nervous. The poet's insomnia is strengthened by the use of the word "countless inquiries" (数问). The poem ends abruptly, but the impression of song lingers. The final two lines complete the topic by transitioning from the poet's nightly vigil to his court appearance the following day. The words are strong but elegant, and they carry a subtle but enduring message of commitment.