— Luo Binwang
Of autumn the cicada sings;
In prison I’m worn out with care.
How can I bear its blue black wings
Which remind me of my grey hair?
Heavy with dew it cannot fly;
Drowned in the wind, its song’s not heard
Who would believe its spirit high?
Could I express my grief in word?
Note
Luo Binwang (c. 640–684 CE) was one of the “Four Great Poets of the Early Tang Dynasty,” renowned for his literary talent, political integrity, and bold spirit. A government official and fervent loyalist, he was imprisoned for criticizing court corruption – during which time he wrote his famous poem “Ode to the Cicada” (Ode to the Cicada – Written in Prison or just Yong Chan).
In this deeply symbolic work, Luo uses the cicada – a traditional emblem of purity and moral uprightness in Chinese culture – as a mirror for his own plight. The poem opens with autumn cicadas singing in the western sky (“West Land” refers to autumn), while the poet, now a prisoner (“Southern Crown” is a classical euphemism for a captive scholar-official), feels profound homesickness and sorrow. He contrasts his once-black hair (“dark temples”) with his current white strands, lamenting how time and injustice have aged him.
The middle lines describe the cicada struggling in heavy dew and buffeted by strong winds – unable to fly far, its song drowned out. This vividly reflects Luo’s own silenced voice and thwarted ideals. The final couplet delivers a poignant cry: “No one believes in my high virtue; who will speak for my true heart?”
Far more than a nature poem, “Ode to the Cicada” is a powerful allegory of political persecution, personal integrity, and the loneliness of the righteous.
咏蝉
— 骆宾王
西陆蝉声唱，
南冠客思深。
那堪玄鬓影，
来对白头吟。
露重飞难进，
风多响易沉。
无人信高洁，
谁为表余心。
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