The poem is about a Song Dynasty man who lives in Wei State. He is unable to return home due to some kind of obstruction. Facing the river, he repeatedly sings and sighs. Water is an image of barrier in the poem. The protagonist wanders by the river. His homeland is close on the other side, but he cannot cross the river. He is anxious. The long-accumulated worries in his chest are like a surge. The poem bursts out, asking questions to the sky to vent his grievances. The river is not wide, and a reed can be used to cross to the other side. The homeland is not far away, and you can see it by standing on tiptoe. The exaggerated rhetoric further highlights the anxious mood of the guest who wants to return but cannot.
诗中所咏的是旅居卫国的宋人，因受某种阻挠，思归不能，面对河水，反复唱叹。水在该诗当中是一种阻隔的意象，主人公踯躅河边，故国近在对岸，但却不能渡过河去，内心焦急，长期积压胸头的忧思如同排空而来的浪涌，诗句夺口而出，向上天发问以宣泄心中的不平。河面并不宽广，一根芦苇就可以渡到对岸，故国并不遥远，踮起脚就可以望得到，夸张的修辞手法更加突出了客子思归而不得的焦急心情。
《诗经·卫风·何广》
谁谓何广？一苇杭之。
谁谓宋远？跂予望之。
谁谓河广？曾不容刀。
谁谓宋远？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.
