A Poet’s Reflections on Mid-Autumn: An Analysis of Seven-Character Quatrain on Mid-Autumn Festival and He Xin Langon Mid-Autumn Festival
By [Your Name], Former Staff Writer, Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, CCTV, Wall Street Journal,and The New York Times
The Mid-Autumn Festival, a time of family reunion and moon gazing, has inspired countless works of art and literature throughout Chinesehistory. This year, the online platform Huaren Toutiao featured two poems by the user Dong Zhang Xi Wang Ke, offering a poignant reflection on this cherished tradition. The poems, a seven-character quatrain (Qilu) and a He Xin Lang long-form verse, both explore themes of homesickness, the passage of time, and the enduring power of familial bonds.
The Seven-Character Quatrain:
The quatrain, titled Seven-Character Quatrain on Mid-Autumn Festival, opens with a candid admission: 一生如意古难全, 放下闲愁自易眠 (A lifetime of happiness is rarely complete, let go of idle worries and easily fall asleep). This sets a contemplative tone, acknowledging the bittersweetnature of life’s experiences. The poet then shifts to the central theme of homesickness: 攲枕思乡何事缺，合家望月几回圆 (Leaning on the pillow, thinking of home, what is lacking? How many times has the family gathered to watch themoon?). This line subtly contrasts the solitary experience of the poet with the idealized image of family reunion under the full moon. The poem continues, contrasting the joyous family gatherings (亲人相聚秋三五) with the poet’s solitary journey (羁旅孤行路八千). The concluding couplet expressesa heartfelt wish: 但愿清光均万里，九州儿女共婵娟 (May the clear moonlight shine equally across ten thousand miles, may the sons and daughters of the nine provinces share the same beautiful moon). This expresses a universal longing for peace and shared joy, transcending geographical boundaries.
The He Xin Lang Poem:
The He Xin Lang poem, also titled He Xin Lang on Mid-Autumn Festival, delves deeper into the poet’s emotional landscape. The opening lines, 百感和谁说。隔山河，蛩声鸿影，换时风物 (With a hundred feelings, to whom can I speak? Across mountains and rivers, the sound of crickets and the shadow of wild geese, changing times and scenery), immediately establish a sense of isolation and the passage of time. The poem continues to explore themes of aging (空长叹，更添华发), lost youth (全把青春沉秋酿), and the bittersweet memories of past joys and sorrows (杂悲欢，又是团圆节). The lines 伯劳相去人相别。逐生涯，壮怀万里，柔肠千结 (The shrike flies away, people part. Pursuing a career, with great aspirations for ten thousand miles, a thousand knots of tender emotions) vividly depict the poet’s journey and the emotional toll it has taken. The concluding lines express a wish for shared happiness and understanding: 我对婵娟遥寄意，愿世间遍得平分月。天地角，同盈缺 (I send my thoughts to the moon, wishing the world could share the moon equally. In the corners of heaven and earth, sharing the same fullness and emptiness).
Conclusion:
Both poems by Dong Zhang Xi Wang Ke offer a nuanced and emotionally resonant reflection on the Mid-Autumn Festival. They move beyond the typical celebratory tone to explore the deeper themes of homesickness, the passage of time, and the enduring power of human connection. The poems’ use of vivid imagery and evocative language effectively conveys the poet’s personal experiences and universal emotions, making them relatable to a wide audience. The contrastbetween the solitary experience of the poet and the idealized image of family reunion highlights the complexities of human experience and the enduring power of hope and longing. Further research could explore the influence of classical Chinese poetry on the poet’s style and the broader cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival in contemporary Chinese society.
References:
- Dong Zhang Xi Wang Ke. (2024, September 17). 七律•中秋（外一首）. Huaren Toutiao. Retrieved from [Insert Huaren Toutiao Link Here]
(Note: I have attempted to analyze the poems based on the providedinformation. A more thorough analysis would require a deeper understanding of classical Chinese poetry and the cultural context of the Mid-Autumn Festival.)
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