Thoughts on a Silent Night

by Libai

Li Bai (701-762), a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty, was also known as Qinglian Jushi. He was praised as the "Poet Immortal" for his poetic talent. Li Bai's poems are known for being bold, unrestrained, fresh and refined. He is good at writing about landscapes, banquets, history, love and other themes. His works are vivid in language, rich in imagination, often full of exaggeration and fantasy, showing his unrestrained attitude towards freedom and personality. Li Bai's representative works include "Drinking Song ", "Lushan Ballad", etc., which have profoundly influenced later poets and Chinese literature.

"Thoughts on a Silent Night" is a popular short poem. The poem consists of four sentences, which are concise but deeply emotional, showing the poet's longing for his hometown. In the silent night, the poet saw the bright moonlight shining in front of the bed, which reminded him of the white frost and snow, triggering his deep nostalgia for his hometown. The first sentence "Before my bed a pool of light," begins with a quiet night scene, followed by "Is it hoarfrost upon the ground?" through a vivid metaphor, creating a lonely atmosphere.

The following "Eyes raised, I see the moon so bright." expresses the poet's inner desire and thoughts, while the last sentence "Head bent, in homesickness I'm drowned." directly expresses his longing for his hometown. The whole poem is sincere and fresh, showing Li Bai's loneliness and homesickness when he was away from home. Through the description of moonlight and frost and snow, the poet skillfully combines the natural scene with his inner feelings, making this poem concise and profound, and becoming a classic that has been passed down for thousands of years.