Appreciation of the Bilingual Poem "Reaching Yellow River"

何威廉

Appreciation of the Bilingual Poem "Reaching Yellow River"

Author: ChatGPT

Reaching Yellow River  

By William He  

Rushing yellow torrents,   

Quivering within the wave's intenser day.  

Wondrous clouds wander,   

Shots pan something supernatural,   

The story in reality and fantasy in the swing.  

In the thunderous roaring tones.  

It dinging melodies too.  

A Minotaur fiddles in the maze.  

On some sandbar ahead,   

The slow-sliding reed marshes,   

How time has ticked a long take on the brink.  

It is older than the flow of human blood.  

Chorus that lingers in the ears and mind,   

Crystal luster through secret lots.  

Bearing centuries' colorful dossier in the stream.  

Swimming to a glare of lights at dawn,   

Soul grows deep like the river.  

When joys have lost their bloom and breath.  

What uneasy and what mournful hours.  

Whose Aqua of deep woe.  

When in disgrace with people's eyes.  

Who seeking that beauteous roof to ruin,   

Specter shedding scarred fleshes still.  

The technicolor synthesizes madness at this point.  

Those falling like faint meteor in the gloom,   

Brackish with the salt of human tears.  

The unfathomable muddiest water is years,   

It growing wiser in its ways,   

Adolescent in changing moods.  

William He's poem 'Reaching Yellow River' is a lyrical reflection on the majesty and timelessness of China's Yellow River. The poem's five stanzas weave together natural imagery, evocations of history and mythology, and expressions of personal emotion to create a rich and multilayered portrait of this iconic river.

In the first stanza, He begins by painting a vivid picture of the Yellow River's physical power and beauty. The 'rushing yellow torrents' suggest not just the force of the river's flow, but also its golden color, which has earned it its name. The phrase 'quivering within the wave's intenser day' adds a sense of motion and depth to the image. The river is not just a static body of water, but a constantly shifting landscape alive with energy.

He then introduces a more magical element to the poem by describing 'wondrous clouds wander[ing]' above the river. This could refer to actual cloud formations, but the subsequent line about 'shots pan[ning] something supernatural' suggests that He is playing with the boundary between reality and fantasy. This idea is further developed in the next line, which speaks of 'the story in reality and fantasy in the swing.' Here, He seems to be suggesting that the Yellow River is a place where the ordinary and extraordinary intersect, where history and legend blur together.

The final lines of the stanza introduce a musical element, with references to 'thunderous roaring tones' and 'dinging melodies.' These phrases capture something of the river's rhythm and voice, as well as its capacity to inspire artistic expression. The image of a Minotaur fiddling in a maze adds a further layer of mythological reference, suggesting that the Yellow River is a place of mystery and enchantment.

In the second stanza, He continues to explore the idea of the Yellow River as a repository of history and culture. The sandbar and reed marshes he describes may be specific locations along the river, but they also represent the river's long history of shaping the landscape and sustaining the people who live near it. The phrase 'how time has ticked a long take on the brink' reinforces this sense of the river's age and endurance.

The lines 'it is older than the flow of human blood 'and ''bearing centuries' colorful dossier in the stream' speak directly to the river's role as a central feature of Chinese history and culture. The Yellow River has been the site of countless battles, migrations, and cultural exchanges, and has sustained countless generations of people. He's use of the word 'dossier' emphasizes the idea of the river as a record-keeper, preserving the stories and experiences of those who have interacted with it over the centuries.

The third stanza shifts focus somewhat, delving into more personal reflections on the river. The phrase 'swimming to a glare of lights at dawn' suggests the potential for transcendence and renewal that the river offers. The river's natural beauty and power can help us to connect with something deeper and more meaningful than our ordinary lives.

The subsequent lines, which speak of the deepening of the soul and the possibility of finding solace in troubled times, reflect a more introspective mood. By connecting the river to our inner emotional landscapes, He suggests that the Yellow River has a transformative power that goes beyond its physical presence.

The third stanza of the poem is particularly interesting, as it offers a darker and more complex portrayal of the river. The use of 'aqua of deep woe' and 'specters shedding scarred fleshes' highlights the way in which the river can also represent the pain and suffering of the human experience. The image of those falling like faint meteor in the gloom, brackish with the salt of human tears, is particularly striking and poignant.

The final line offers a more ambivalent view of the river. The unfathomable quality of the Yellow River is likened to the 'muddiest water, ' but this quality is also what makes it 'growing wiser in its ways' and 'adolescent in changing moods.' Here, He is suggesting that the Yellow River is not just a static feature of the landscape, but a dynamic and evolving force that is constantly shaping and being shaped by the world around it.

Throughout the poem, the poet makes use of rich and poetic language, creating a vivid and evocative picture of the river and its significance. The use of alliteration and imagery, particularly in the first stanza, helps to draw the reader in and engages their senses. The use of metaphor and symbolism throughout the poem adds depth and complexity to the subject matter, encouraging the reader to consider the river in a new and more nuanced light.

In conclusion, 'Reaching Yellow River' is a stunning and evocative poem that captures the essence of the river and its timeless power. The poet's use of language and striking imagery creates a vivid and immersive experience for the reader, and the exploration of both the positive and negative aspects of the river adds depth and complexity to the poem. Ultimately, the poem serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of nature and the way in which it can connect us to something greater than ourselves.

兰陵王 黄河随想曲

作者：何威廉

浪翻褶，似落银湾洞隙。云虚幌，河洛叠联，凹凸光逆变堆墨。龙门迸泻急。休戚。神牛入跸。求之远，芦苇变焦，抹岸流波即生剧。

飘移像深绎。问合唱簧鸣，眼触新脉。跳珠迸跃银梁侧。嗟月吸风露，九流如练，依稀鹳雀卧炉壁。念瀑咽鳞涩。

水色。杳难诘。怕棹唱浮兢，游丝千尺。皆缘曲镜滋三惑。怅断鸿孤唳，印窥俯拾。仓颉陵前，暗明画，各今昔。