A Song of Pure Happiness
by Libai
(One)
Her robe is a cloud, her face a flower;
Her balcony, glimmering with the bright spring dew,
Is either the tip of earth's Jade Mountain
Or a moon- edged roof of paradise.
(Two)
There's a perfume stealing moist from a shaft of red blossom,
And a mist, through the heart, from the magical Hill of Wu;
The palaces of China have never known such beauty,
Not even Flying Swallow with all her glittering garments.
(Three)
Lovely now together, his lady and his flowers,
Lighten for ever the Emperor's eye,
As he listens to the sighing of the far spring wind
Where she leans on a railing in the Aloe Pavilion.
Li Bai (701-762), also known as Taibai and Qinglian Jushi, was a great romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty and was honored as the "Poet Immortal". Though considered to be a genius, he wouldn’t bother to sit for the Imperial Examination to become an official. He spent much of his life travelling around the country, enjoying wine and leading a carefree life. Li Bai was talented and bold in his poetry. His works were mostly about landscapes, banquets, history, love, etc., and he had extremely high artistic achievements. His poetry was unrestrained in language and rich in imagination. He often used exaggeration to express his love for freedom, individuality and nature. His representative works such as "Lushan Ballad", "Drinking Song", etc. had a far-reaching influence and can be regarded as the treasure of ancient Chinese literature.
"A Song of Pure Happiness" consists of three poems, which were written in response to the call of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. In these poems, Li Bai expressed his admiration for Yang Guifei with gorgeous language and vivid description, and showed the prosperity of the prosperous Tang Dynasty and the luxury of the court through poetry.
"A Song of Pure Happiness " has extremely high artistic achievements. In the poem, Li Bai uses exquisite description to show the beauty of Yang Guifei and the splendor of court life. Especially in "One", the sentence " Her robe is a cloud, her face a flower; Her balcony, glimmering with the bright spring dew, is either the tip of earth's Jade Mountain Or a moon-edged roof of paradise. " vividly depicts the beauty of Yang Guifei and shows the poet's admiration and love for her.
In addition, Li Bai used highly expressive rhetoric in this group of poems, such as contrast and exaggeration, which made the poems full of romanticism. Although these poems are full of the luxury and gorgeousness of court life, they also reflect the poet's infinite pursuit of beauty and freedom, and embody Li Bai's unique personality and artistic style.