Mastering Chinese Poetry: Composed on New Year's Eve

厨业作高适,旅馆寒灯独不眠,客星何事转凄然,故乡今夜思千里,双鬓明朝又一年。 What poems come to mind on New Year's Eve? For many, the day is all about family time, getting together with friends, and the joyful memories of the good old days. However, the poem we're discussing today tells a whole different story. It is written by Tang Dynasty poet Gao Shi, composed on New Year's Eve. In a lonely hotel, a cold candle is sleepless. Why is a traveler's heart seized by sorrow? Tonight, I miss my hometown thousands miles away. Tomorrow marks another year, with gray hair at my temples. From the first line, the descriptions of a lonely hotel and a cold candle set the tone of the poem. The poet is sad and lonely, and we can infer this from how he describes the hotel as lonely, and the candle usually a source of warmth, as cold. So from the start, the reader knows the poem is not a happy one. The second line serves as a transition, but more importantly, it asks a critical question, why is the poet sad? We move from the poet's surroundings to his inner thoughts when it is answered in the third line. He is sad because he misses home, described as thousands of miles away. The theme of homesickness is extended even further in the fourth and final line, where the reader becomes aware that it is New Year's Eve, a time when people will gather as a family and meet the New Year together. The theme of homesickness is universal, especially during the holidays when one would rather be around family and friends. This is perhaps one of the reasons this poem has withstood the test of time. What an unforgettable New Year's Eve poem! Have you ever been far away from home on New Year's Eve? How did you feel? Share it with us, and Happy New Year!