Member Poem

Springtime Sun

Yin Qiqi (~800)
 
 
In times of doubt I sing to spring’s fresh sun
And free the knots tied up within my gut—
Your young man’s left his home and not come back
But winter’s snow will wash the willow’s smut.
 
 

Chinese   陽春曲 殷七七   愁見唱陽春 令人離腸結 郎去未歸家 柳自飄香雪

Pronunciation   Yáng Chūn Qū Yīn Qīqī   Chóu jiàn chàng yáng chūn Líng rén lí cháng jié Láng qù wèi guī jiā Liǔ zì piāo xiāng xuě

 
 
Transliteration and Notes
 
Sun Spring Song
 
Anxiety see sing sun spring
Makes people leave gut knots
Young-man left not yet returned home
Willow-tree self floating fragrance snow
 
     “Sun” is the same “yang” as in “yin-yang” and symbolizes male energy. “Spring” symbolizes youth. “Makes men” together is when something causes someone to feel an emotion.  “Gut knots” means emotional distress, as in someone’s “stomach is in knots.” “Willow-tree” symbolizes pleasure. “Floating fragrance” means something wafts around. “Snow” can symbolize wiping away shame. This poem is spoken to someone worrying that their young man has left the responsibilities of home for pleasure, but says he’ll mature and redeem himself.
     Yin Qiqi was a Daoist priest and poet in the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Dezong. His name may have originally been Yin Qizi (“Yin Seventh Child”), but he called himself Qiqi as in “7-7” and did not know his age. The poet wandered frequently, enjoyed getting drunk, and was famous for his magic, alchemy, and medicine.