闻官军收河南河北 Upon hearing news of the reclaimation of Henan and Hebei
剑外忽传收蓟北，初闻涕泪满衣裳。
jiàn wài hū chuán shōu jì běi ， chū wén tì lèi mǎn yī cháng 。
Beyond the borders, news of Jibei's regain took hold, At first hearing, tears of joy flowed and stories were told.
却看妻子愁何在，漫卷诗书喜欲狂。
què kàn qī zǐ chóu hé zài ， màn juàn shī shū xǐ yù kuáng 。
Yet, when I looked at my wife, her worries were no more, With elation, I gathered poetry and books I adore.
白日放歌须纵酒，青春作伴好还乡。
bái rì fàng gē xū zòng jiǔ ， qīng chūn zuò bàn hǎo huán xiāng 。
Under the bright sun, I must sing and let wine flow, In the company of youth, returning home aglow.
即从巴峡穿巫峡，便下襄阳向洛阳。
jí cóng bā xiá chuān wū xiá ， biàn xià xiāng yáng xiàng luò yáng 。
Swiftly passing through Baxia, Wuxia, and the Yangtze's bend, Towards Luoyang, my heart soars, this journey has no end.
Background
In the spring of 763 AD, at the age of 52, Du Fu crafted this poem in response to the triumph of the Tang army near Luoyang (洛阳) at Hengshui (横水) during the winter of Baoying (宝应元年, 762 AD). The victorious campaign led to the surrender of rebel leaders like Xue Song (薛嵩) and Zhang Zhongzhi (张忠志). Overwhelmed with joy and elation upon receiving the news, the poet poured his heart into this verse, seeking to express the depths of his emotions.
Overview
In January, as the rebel leader Shi Chaoyi took his own life, the An Lushan Rebellion came to a close. Upon hearing this news, Du Fu's joy and excitement knew no bounds. He danced with jubilation and sang this seven-character poem, overflowing with exuberant emotions.
The first half captured the poet's initial surprise and delight upon receiving the news, while the second half depicted his preparations to journey back to his beloved hometown. Eager to return, he longed for the embrace of his homeland.
Considered Du Fu's "first joyful poem" in his lifetime, its lines spoke of overwhelming happiness at the imperial army's triumph. The emotions poured forth spontaneously and vividly, a testament to the poet's unbridled elation.
With patriotism as the cornerstone, the poem revealed the poet's profound love for his country and his lofty spirit. In this expression of boundless joy, Du Fu's noble soul shone brightly.
Line Breakdown
剑外忽传收蓟北，初闻涕泪满衣裳。
Beyond the borders, news of Jibei's regain took hold, At first hearing, tears of joy flowed and stories were told.
The first line surged forth with powerful momentum, accurately conveying the suddenness of the victory news. After years of wandering beyond the borders with hardships endured, and a longing to return to his hometown in Jibei, only hindered by the unrest of the region and the lingering An Lushan Rebellion, the sudden tidings of Jibei's recovery ("忽传收蓟北") unleashed a torrent of joy within the poet. An emotional dam that had been building for so long finally burst open.
"初闻涕泪满衣裳" described the intense emotions that engulfed the poet at the moment he first heard the news ("初闻"), which came so abruptly ("忽传"). The tears streaming down his clothes vividly depicted the surge of emotions triggered by the unexpected news - a blend of overwhelming joy and sorrow, a genuine expression of his heartfelt emotions.
With Jibei's recovery, the end of the war loomed near, and the suffering of the people and the devastation of the land would finally be alleviated. The poet had endured eight long years of hardships and sorrows, surviving the calamity like a nightmarish dream, finally able to return to his homeland. For the people, a new life awaited. In this moment, the poet's sorrow transformed into pure joy, and he was overwhelmed with happiness.
The poem beautifully captured the poet's intricate emotions and psychological shifts at the moment of hearing the blissful news. In prose, it would require a multitude of words to convey such feelings, but the poet condensed it all into five words - "涕泪满衣裳" - a powerful portrayal of his inner world.
却看妻子愁何在，漫卷诗书喜欲狂。
Yet, when I looked at my wife, her worries were no more, With elation, I gathered poetry and books I adore.
Continuing from the peak of joyous excitement ("喜欲狂") in the first couplet, the second couplet unfolds with a sense of natural progression. The phrases "却看妻子" and "漫卷诗书" depict two successive actions, intertwined with a cause-and-effect relationship. When the poet finds himself overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions, his clothes soaked with tears ("涕泪满衣裳"), instinctively, he looks back to his wife and children, who have weathered the trials and tribulations of life together with him. "却看" seems as though the poet wishes to convey something to his family, yet being at a loss for words. The dark clouds of sorrow that had hung over the entire family for years have now vanished, leaving not a trace. This line presents a striking contrast between the poet's joy and that of his wife and children, emphasizing their shared happiness and triumph over past hardships.
白日放歌须纵酒，青春作伴好还乡。
Under the bright sun, I must sing and let wine flow, In the company of youth, returning home aglow.
In this couplet, the vivid portrayal of the poet's ecstatic joy continues from the previous lines. "白日" refers to bright days and implies that the poet has entered old age. For an elderly person, it is rare to "放歌" (sing aloud) and not advisable to indulge in wine. However, in this moment of sheer happiness, he not only wants to "放歌" but also wishes to "纵酒" (drink freely), exemplifying the concrete expression of being "喜欲狂" (ecstatic with joy).
The first line portrays the state of being "狂" (ecstatic) while the second line expresses the thoughts that make him "狂" (ecstatic). "青春" evokes the imagery of springtime, which has arrived with its melodies and fragrances, allowing the poet to be accompanied by his wife and children in this joyful moment, as they "还乡" (return to their homeland). Thinking of this, the poet naturally becomes "喜欲狂" with delight.
即从巴峡穿巫峡，便下襄阳向洛阳
Swiftly passing through Baxia, Wuxia, and the Yangtze's bend, Towards Luoyang, my heart soars, this journey has no end.
The poet's imagination surges to its peak as he stands in Zizhou, yet in an instant, he feels transported back to his beloved hometown. This couplet weaves together four distinct place names: "巴峡" (Baxia) and "巫峡" (Wuxia), "襄阳" (Xiangyang) and "洛阳" (Luoyang). Each pair forms a parallel structure within the lines, creating a harmonious sequence of locales. The use of dynamic verbs like "穿" (pierce) and "向" (head towards) in conjunction with these places infuses the lines with a sense of rapid motion, akin to the flow of water.
Moreover, the words "即从" (immediately pass through) and "便下" (quickly descend) smoothly link the two lines, conveying the swift flow of the poet's imagination, as if the scenes were flashing before the reader's eyes.
Notably, the poet not only paints a vivid picture through his imagination but also describes an actual journey. "巴峡" and "巫峡" are narrow and treacherous gorges where boats speedily pass through, hence the use of "穿" (pierce). After leaving "巫峡" and reaching "襄阳," the journey continues downstream with great haste, hence "便下" (quickly descend). Finally, from "襄阳" to "洛阳," the poet has shifted to overland travel, hence "向" (head towards). The word choices are astutely precise, heightening the sense of urgency and realism in the couplet.