These are two lines from "Yangtze River" written by Wen Tianxiang, a famous national hero and patriotic poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. They express that although the poet is in prison, he still yearns for the Southern Song Dynasty and would rather die than return to the South. Patriotism.
My heart is like a magnetic needle, and it will not rest until it points to the right direction
"Yangtze River" by Wen Tianxiang of the Song Dynasty
[Modern translation] My heart is like a magnetic needle, and it will not rest until it points to the right direction. Point south and never give up!
[Appreciation] During the Dehu period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yuan soldiers went south and occupied the middle and lower reaches of Changbu. Duzong's concubine Yi Wang Zhao retreated to the Fujian area. At this time, Wen Tianxiang took a boat from Nantong to eastern Zhejiang and transferred to Fujian. Soon after changing the Yuan Dynasty to Jingyan (1276), Zhao ascended the throne in Fuzhou and was known as Duanzong in history. "South" in the poem refers to the Song Dynasty court. Magnetic needle stone, the compass. The poet uses a compass as a metaphor for his loyalty, which is both popular and appropriate. He also wrote poems about his experiences in adversity. He titled his collection of poems "Guan Lu" and "Guan Hou Lu", indicating that although he went through many hardships, was defeated and captured, his loyalty to the Southern Song Dynasty remained unchanged until death.
[Original work] I traveled to the North Sea with the wind for a few days and returned to the head of the Yangtze River. My heart is like a magnetic needle, and it will not rest until it points to the other side.