Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《韩冬郎即席为诗相送》

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Li Shangyin was born about 812 or 813 CE, but the exact date is uncertain. His career was rough, and he never obtained a high position, either because of factional disputes or because of his association with Liu Fen (劉蕡), a prominent opponent of the eunuchs.

 

韩冬郎[1]即席为诗相送

(韩冬郎即席为诗相送,一座皆惊。他日余方追吟“连宵侍坐徘徊久”之句有老成之风,因成二绝寄酬,兼呈畏之员外)

(二首其一)

十岁[2]裁诗走马成[3],

冷灰残烛动离情。

桐花[4]万里丹山[5]路,

雏凤清于老凤声。

韩偓之父韩瞻,与李商隐是同年进士,又是连襟,二人交谊很深,题中畏之员外即指韩瞻。唐宣宗大中五年(851年),李商隐赴梓州为节度书记。其时韩偓八岁,即席赋诗,才惊满座。该诗追忆了韩冬郎十岁即席赋诗的事,称赞他才思敏捷,所作诗歌富于情感,就连冷灰残烛也为之感动。第三、四句把韩冬郎比喻为凤凰,称赞其前程远大,如万里之遥的丹山碧梧之雏凤,其才华建树必胜老凤(韩瞻)。

注释:

[1]韩冬郎:韩偓,冬郎是其小名。

[2]十岁:大中五年(851年),韩偓十岁。

[3]走马成:言其作诗文思敏捷,走马之间即可成章。

[4]桐花:《诗经·大雅·卷阿》:“凤皇鸣矣,于彼高岗。梧桐生矣,于彼朝阳。”泛指后起之秀将更有作为,不可限量。桐,梧桐,传说凤凰非梧桐不宿。

[5]丹山:传说为凤凰产地。

Written for Han Wo,Poet Prodigy

(I)

You wrote a verse with highest speed at ten years old;

We would not part though candle ashes turned cold.

The flowery mountain path extends for miles long;

The young surpass the old in singing phoenix’s song.

Note:Han Wo was son of Han Chan,son-in-law of Wang Maoyuan as the poet Li Shangyin.Li was invited by Han in 851 when Han Wo wrote a verse at ten years old in the farewell feast,and Li wrote the above in 855 in reply when he returned to the capital.