Introduction to Poet: Li He

[snowynight]

Despite the distant royal ancestry of Li He (790–816), he died a poor and petty official. Li 's poetry was known for his imagination and unconventional style. His poem often dealt with death and the next world, and that was why he was nicknamed "poetic ghost".

李憑箜篌引 (李賀) 吳絲蜀桐張高秋, 空山凝雲頹不流. 湘娥啼竹素女愁, 李憑中國彈箜篌. 昆山玉碎鳳凰叫, 芙蓉泣露香蘭笑. 十二門前融冷光, 二十三絲動紫皇. 女媧煉石補天處, 石破天驚逗秋雨. 夢入神山教神嫗, 老魚跳波瘦蛟舞. 吳質不眠倚桂樹, 露腳斜飛濕寒兔.

Li Ping Playing the Harp (Li He, 790-816 AD, China) Ying Sun © 2008 Silk strings of a phoenix-wood harp resonate in autumn sky. Attracted by music, clouds stop drifting and gather high. Xiang girl’s tears spot the bamboos and fairies are mourning, All because in the imperial city harpist Li Ping is playing. Brisk like crashing jade, bright like phoenix’s call. Somber like peony’s weep, joyful like orchid’s smile. The twelve gates of the capital emerge from cold light. All twenty-three strings vibrate to God’s delight. The sky hole sealed with melt stone by the Goddess... Is broken again, making autumn rain endless. I dream of Li Ping helping the harp fairy to advance. Old fish jump the waves and skinny dragons dance. By the laurel tree in Moon Palace Wu Gang grows old. The drifting rain soaks the moon rabbit wet and cold.

Comments

[bookblather]

What a beautiful poem. I really love the imagery in it, the way it shifts back and forth between natural and supernatural, and how bright it all is.

[snowynight]

Thank you!