Member Poem

Crossing the Han River

 
Li Pin (818-876)
 
 
Beyond the mountains, letters have not come
For winters, springs, and winters once again;
Approaching home, I feel once more afraid—
Too scared to ask of what’s become of them.
 
 

 
Transliteration and Notes
 
Crossing Han River
 
Mountain-ridge outside sound letters cut-off
Pass winter repeatedly sets spring
Near hometown feeling more afraid
Not dare inquire returning man
 
     This poem is about homesickness and the poet’s excitement at returning after a long absence. But as he gets closer, he gets fearful that bad news since he was cut off for so long.
     There is controversy about who is the actual author of the poem. In the 300 Tang Poems, it says Li Pin is the author. But In the Complete Poems of the Tang Dynasty, it is listed twice, once by Song Zhiwen and once by Li Pin.