In a moving poem, Li Bai writes:
As the green hills are on the north wall,
White water waves east of the city.
And from this place, in a single act, the two of us separated.
And like a lonely tumbleweed now travels ten thousand li,
drifting clouds echo the thoughts of travelers.
The setting sun has begun to reflect the feelings of my old friends.
And when he starts he waves his hand,
and his horse screams when he goes.
Sometimes the right words are hard to find
In “Goodbye my friend”, another poem with a solemn tone,
Li Bai has once again created beautiful images that can leave a lasting impression.
on any open mind.
In a poem reminiscent of a lone traveler setting off towards sunset,
a lonely tumbleweed travels, and drifting clouds echo the thoughts of travelers.
This set of images has created such a beautiful impression that it seems to take on a
extraordinary dreamlike quality.
And while the quality of the images is perhaps out of the question, the nature of the poem
and its relation to the mind of the poets is much less clear.
Superficially it would seem that the poem is a simple description of two friends who have just separated.
But like much of Li Bai’s work, the simple words create ample room for varied interpretations.
In a scene that can evoke the rough and rugged textures of the central plains, a lone traveler can wander like a tumbleweed, while the mind drifts like the clouds above.
However, the nature of the sun is much more confusing.
Certainly a beautiful scene, sunsets have captured the human imagination for eons.
However, the meaning of the sun within this poem is much less certain.
What do these friends feel when they share?
Does the impending darkness symbolize a friendship that has come to an end?
Or is the sun a reflection of lovely thoughts that will last forever?
*** Mystic and poet, Li Bai considers the nature of human existence in both space and time.