詩中所詠的是旅居衛(wèi)國的宋人,因受某種阻撓,思歸不能,面對河水,反復唱嘆。水在該詩當中是一種阻隔的意象,主人公躑躅河邊,故國近在對岸,但卻不能渡過河去,內(nèi)心焦急,長期積壓胸頭的憂思如同排空而來的浪涌,詩句奪口而出,向上天發(fā)問以宣泄心中的不平。河面并不寬廣,一根蘆葦就可以渡到對岸,故國并不遙遠,踮起腳就可以望得到,夸張的修辭手法更加突出了客子思歸而不得的焦急心情。
《詩經(jīng)·衛(wèi)風·何廣》
誰謂何廣?一葦杭之。
誰謂宋遠?跂予望之。
誰謂河廣?曾不容刀。
誰謂宋遠?曾不崇朝。
Ho Kwang
Who says that the Ho is wide?
With (a bundle of) reeds I can cross it.
Who says that Sung is distant?
On tiptoe I can see it.
Who says that the Ho is wide?
It will not admit a little boat.
Who says that Sung is distant?
It would not take a whole morning to reach it.