Parrot is a seven-character poem written by Bai Juyi, a realistic poet in Tang Dynasty. The whole poem seems to be about parrots, but in fact it is about singers who are kept at home by powerful people. By describing the parrot trapped in the cage, this poem expresses sympathy for the oppressed geisha and the desire for freedom and liberation, and shows the poet's great humanitarian spirit.
Original: Longxi parrot went to Jiangdong, and its mouth turned red after the year. Every time I feed, I am always afraid to cut my wings first and open the cage temporarily. Although people are sympathetic and eloquent, birds have different meanings when they recall flying high. It should be a showgirl like Zhumen, hiding deep in the back room.
The parrot in Longxi was taken to Jiangdong, and its mouth turned red after a few years. Cut off its wings before it flies away, and only temporarily open the cage door when feeding. People cherish its clever mouth, although the feelings are very heavy, but the bird wants to fly high, which is different from people's ideas. Much like singers and dancers from rich families, they have been hiding in the back room.
Longxi parrot has been raised in Jiangdong for many years, and its mouth is getting redder and redder. "Longxi" is rich in parrots, and Tang Piri's poem "Mourning Long Min" says: "Wanshan in Gansu, parrots nest at the top." Parrots were brought from Longxi to Jiangdong and left home in Wan Li. The word "many years" implies that it has been away from home for many years.
After years of artificial breeding, wild parrots become more and more red in mouth and look more bright red and gorgeous. It really implies that they are getting old quietly and their personalities are disappearing. What's the use of "all red in the mouth"? On the contrary, it is more popular with the host.
Creative background:
In the second year of Changqing (822), Bai Juyi requested to be released to the outside world, and was successively the secretariat of Hangzhou and Suzhou. This poem was written in 826, the second year of Emperor Jingzong of the Tang Dynasty, and Bai Juyi was appointed as the secretariat of Suzhou.
As a realistic poet, Bai Juyi is very concerned about people's sufferings and gives them help within his own authority. But reality is always reality, personal strength is limited after all, and some things cannot be changed. He is very upset and helpless. In this case, he created a parrot.