狱中寄子由
（予以事系御史台狱，狱吏稍见侵，自度不能堪，死狱中，不得一别子由，故作二诗授狱卒梁成，以遗子由，二首。）
原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）
旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990)
新版及赏析: 闵晓红(2023)
其一
圣主如天万物春，
小臣愚暗自亡身。
百年未满先偿债，
十口无归更累人。
是处青山可埋骨，
他年夜雨独伤神。
与君世世为兄弟，
更结来生未了因。
From Prison to My Brother Ziyou
( I was put into prison at the Censorate where the guards were a bit hard on me. I reckon I might not be able to make it, and fear not having the opportunity to see my brother for the last time. So I write my last two poems and ask the guards to deliver them to Ziyou.)
written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo')
old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990)
Revision+ annot. by Julia Min (2023)
(first poem)
The emperor is our heaven, our great saint,
Bringing us hope just like the promising spring.
But my ignorance’s bent on self-destruction.
This body, though not old, deserves punishment
to clear my debt possibly owed before this life.
So sorry to burden you with a household of ten.
Don’t worry about a good place for my tomb.
Any green hill is decent enough for my bones.
Sorry to leave you alone to future dark rains,
But I promise to be a better brother, a better man,
Not just in next life, but many to come and spend.
Together, we’ll fulfill this unfinished sibling bond.
For Appreciation:
The year 1079 marked a profound turning point, not just in the life of Su Shi, but in the very essence of freedom of speech that had been cherished for centuries in China. It was a year of despair when he was unjustly arrested in Huzhou, sentenced to the grim confines of the Censorate, ominously dubbed ‘the Crows’ Court.’ The weight of his words, twisted and misinterpreted by those who sought to undermine him, became the chains that bound him—not for any wrongdoing, but for the very act of expressing his thoughts through poetry. For three agonizing months, he languished in near-death suffering, gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread for his family’s safety and future.
Such a harrowing experience inevitably ignited a transformation within him. In the depths of his anguish, Su Shi found a profound philosophical awakening, a yearning to retreat to the mountains, to embrace a Daoist existence amidst the tranquil rivers and seas. As the New Law spread its shadow across the nation, countless followers who had once drawn inspiration from his words faced dire consequences, their fates intertwined with his own banishment to Huangzhou. The weight of their suffering mirrored his own, amplifying the sorrow that enveloped his heart.
In a cruel twist of fate, the misunderstanding that had led to his downfall echoed in the very fabric of his life. Just as Emperor Shenzong had misread the essence of his poetry, so too did a simple fish dish become a poignant symbol of his plight. In a moment of dread, he had made a pact with his son, Su Mai, to bring a fish dish should he face a death sentence; otherwise, it would be a humble meal of meat and vegetables. But when Mai was unable to fulfill that promise, he sent a friend instead, who, in a gesture of goodwill, brought a beautiful fish—a dish that once brought joy to the poet’s heart.
Yet, within this seemingly innocent act, the shadows of mortality loomed large. The near-death sentiments that arose from this experience manifested in two poignant poems, laden with the weight of his reflections, as if he were crafting his last will upon a deathbed. At just 44 years old, with a family of ten depending on him, he found himself thrust into a role he never wished to assume—asking his brother to shoulder the burden of their lives. The emotional turmoil of this moment resonates deeply, a reminder of the fragility of existence and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Reference:
1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng， published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“From Prison to my Brother Zi You" – "Noble Emperor Shengzong be praised! Everything is in spring./ Political foolishness brought me down this road to doom./ I’m not old yet, and still ask you to pay my debts. / I trouble you with my ten mouths to feed, and no home. / My body you can bury any place the hills are green. / A year from now you’ll grieve alone on nights it rains./ Listen, in this life and the next we will be brothers./ Our love’s not finished, not in this world or any other.”)
2. picture from the magazine
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