Janelle Morris
Blog 1 “Light Rain” by LuYu
In the last 20 years of his life, Lu Yu spent his time on a farm at his ancestors village in Shaow-hsing. While living here, he kept a journal and wrote a poem almost everyday. His poetry celebrated the mountains and its beauty but rather than just painting a picture with his words, Lu Yu used words to actually place yourself with him in his surroundings. Hinton even says that his poetry was “quentessential Sung: rather than portray insight, they enact it,” (Hinton 241). His words actually set in stone the place he writing from. One poem in particular, “To My Son, Yϋ,” Lu Yu seems to be speaking his upcoming death into existence. I found that not only is he talking about his death, but even the death of nature and its beauty.
To open his poem, Lu Yu basically says that old people are nothing but “worn-out” children (247). He then continues to say that what was of the ancient world, is disappearing. It has gotten so bad that “everything’s gone: firewood, water, servants, strength,” (247). Lu Yu goes from natural world images to images of actual people. The natural images are even essential items to survival; firewood to keep warm and water to keep you hydrated,a nd strength is needed just survive day to day. He keeps going and talke about how hunger is soon to come. He writes, “The granary’s swept out: there’s nervous talk of hunger,” (247). He ends his poem porclaiming that he still has a few years left in him, but his son will need to look after him. Although this poem could be seen as a letter to Lu Yu’s son informing that his time is short and he needs looking after pretty soon, it does not really flow with his usual themes of nature and beauty. I feel this poem is an outcry for help. Lu Yu is speaking for the world of nature. Things are dying out. Firewood and water is becoming scarce and food is the next to disappear. Lu Yu is using this poem to inform his son that when he goes, he will need someone to step up and take care of the nautral world. The environment will die soon if no one steps up to the plate and helps it.
The feeling of this poem is so sad and melancholy. It is not as happy as “Light Rain” which describes the light summer rains that give life to a hot summer day. In “Light Rain” he even talks of how lovely it is to see dark clouds roll off the horizon of the river (248), but here, the feeling of the language is darkened with words like “worn-out,” “everything’s gone,” and “I can’t manage alone,” (247). While reading his poetry, I could even hear his voice and in this poem “To My Son, Yϋ,” I feel his voice is weak and tired, which goes along with my idea that he is not only talking about his life, but the life of nature that is slowly dying out.
Global Environmental Literature 
I like your interpretation of Lu Yu’s poem To My Son Yü. I do sense the weakness in his writing. Tieing in the his own death and the death of nature is a clever comparison. His weakness is felt and the fact that he says everything is gone including both human and natural things adds to the punch. I feel that his message is telling his son to take care of him, but most importantly to take care of nature. He says “I still have a few years left. You’ll need to look after me” (247). If he is comparing himself to nature then he is telling his son that nature wil not prosper much longer. It’s up to his son to tke care of it. I also agree how you notice that Light Rain has a lighter tone than To My Son Yü. Light Rain is more appreciative of the nature as opposed to the dying out of it. Rain is a dreary thing of nature but in this poem Lu Yu makes it sound beautiful and brings nature to life.
I also like the observations that you made about Lu Yu’s poem “To My Son, Yu.” He connects his own weakness with with his fragile surroundings. I especially found his first line very intriguing. His statement is that, “An old-timer’s just a worn-out child. I can’t manage alone,” (247). Although he does not refer to youth in the rest of the poem, I see Lu Yu as the type of person who sees youthfulness in everything. However, in this situation the dispair overshadows his optimism and brings out a more harsh, cruel reality. However, I think that the last line of the poem could be interpreted as a kind of vicarious hope for his son. Lu Yu says, “Those misty ten-thousand-mile views will just have to wait,” (247). The reference to “misty ten-thousands-mile views” could be referring to the positive hope that Lu Yu has for his son. He could be suggesting that he envisions longevity for his son.