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.