“Du Mu’s Travel Lodge: Loneliness and Nostalgia”

Original Text and Translation

“旅宿” (Travel Lodge)

Tang Dynasty

By Du Mu

Translation:

In the inn, there are no good companions; I sit quietly, lost in my own thoughts. Beneath the cold light of the lamp, I reminisce about the past, while the lonely cries of geese awaken my sorrowful dreams. My dreams of returning home only come true at dawn, while letters from home won’t arrive until the next year. The river’s misty moonlight is beautiful, and a fishing boat is moored in front of my door.

Expanded Explanation for American Readers

Du Mu’s poem “旅宿” (Travel Lodge) from the Tang Dynasty captures a deep sense of isolation and nostalgia. The poet’s experience of solitude in a foreign place is portrayed through vivid imagery and a reflective tone, evoking feelings of melancholy and longing for home.

The poem opens with the poet’s solitude in an inn. Without any close friends or companions, Du Mu finds himself immersed in his own thoughts, highlighting his isolation. The phrase “no good companions” emphasizes the absence of social comfort and the loneliness he feels.

Beneath the cold light of the lamp, Du Mu reflects on his past, which only intensifies his sense of melancholy. The “cold light of the lamp” serves as a symbol of the poet’s somber mood and his loneliness during the night. As he recalls memories, the image of the “lonely cries of geese” adds to the atmosphere of desolation. These cries serve as a metaphor for the poet’s own feelings of isolation and sorrow, as they disturb his dreams and remind him of his loneliness.

The poet’s dreams of returning home are only realized at dawn, emphasizing the distance and separation from his homeland. This imagery of dreams only coming true at dawn underscores the fleeting nature of comfort and the harsh reality of his situation. Additionally, the line “letters from home won’t arrive until the next year” reflects the long wait for news from loved ones, highlighting the emotional distance between Du Mu and his home.

In the final lines, Du Mu contrasts his current predicament with the beauty of the river’s misty moonlight. The serene imagery of the “river’s misty moonlight” offers a moment of solace and beauty amidst the poet’s sorrow. The mention of the “fishing boat moored in front of my door” adds a touch of everyday life and normalcy, providing a contrast to the poet’s feelings of loneliness and longing.