Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to honor fathers and fatherhood and to recognize the contribution that fathers make on their children’s lives. Many poems have been written to celebrate fathers and fatherhood since ancient times by poets around the world. Today we will share with you some fantastic ones by, for, and about dads.
Fathers in traditional Chinese culture have been noted as stern disciplinarians, who encourage their kids by applying strict rules at home to help them grow. Lu You (1125–1209), a poet from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), was one of such fathers. A line from one of his “to my son” poems has become a time-honored principle, which reads “What’s learned from books is superficial (浅薄的) after all. It’s crucial to have it personally tested somehow.”
Su Dongpo (1037-1101) is a great romantic poet from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). During the ups and downs of his political career, the poet wrote a poem titled “On the Birth of His Son”. Here is a translation by the British sinologist (汉学家) and poet Arthur Waley.
Families, when a child is born
Want it to be intelligent.
I, through intelligence,
Having wrecked (毁掉) my whole life,
Only hope the baby will prove
Ignorant and stupid.
Then he will crown a tranquil (安宁的) life
By becoming a Cabinet Minister.
After savoring fathers’ love and wisdom in ancient Chinese poems, let’s appreciate a western one, written by Robert Hayden.
Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?
Have you been inspired to think of other poetic lines in praise of father after reading these poems? What do you think is the best way to express love to your father on this special day? Share with us in the comment section below. We will select up to 5 lucky readers and send each of them a limited edition gift.
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1.Which is closest in meaning to Lu You’s poem mentioned in the text?
A It’s never too old to learn.
B Knowledge starts with practice.
C A man can do no more than he can.
D Reading is the mind while exercising to the body.
解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第二段中的“What’s learned from books is superficial (浅薄的) after all. It’s crucial to have it personally tested somehow.”的对应汉语为“纸上行来终觉浅，得知此事要躬行”。由此可知，陆游的诗强调了实践的重要性。故选B。
2.What can we know from On the Birth of His Son?
A Su suffered for his wisdom.
B Su wanted his son to be clever.
C People judge a book by its cover.
D Only smart people have bright futures.
解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据苏轼《洗儿》一诗中的“I, through intelligence,”“Having wrecked my whole life,”我被聪明误一生。由此可知，苏轼认为自己“聪明反被聪明误”。故选A。
