"The sun has set, and a mist is in the flowers;
And the moon grows very white and people sad and sleepless.
A Chao harp has j ust been laid mute on its phrenix-holder,
And a Shu l ute begins to sound its mandari n-duck strings .
Since nobody can bear to you the burden of my song,
Would that it might follow the spring wind to Yen-jan Mou ntain.
I think of you far away, beyond the blue sky,
And my eyes that once were sparkling
Are now a well of tears .
...Oh, if ever you should doubt this aching of my heart,
Here in my bright mirror come back and look at me!"
Original Poem
「长相思 · 其二」
李白
日色欲尽花含烟，月明如素愁不眠。
赵瑟初停凤凰柱，蜀琴欲奏鸳鸯弦。
此曲有意无人传，愿随春风寄燕然。
忆君迢迢隔青天。
昔日横波目，今作流泪泉。
不信妾断肠，归来看取明镜前。
Interpretation
This lyric poem from the Tang dynasty, the second in the "Everlasting Longing" series, expresses a woman's profound yearning for her distant beloved. Using spring scenery as poetic inspiration, it portrays lovesickness through environmental ambiance and psychological depiction. With delicate and graceful strokes, the poet captures the loneliness and melancholy of separation, conveying deep emotional resonance.
First Stanza: "日色欲尽花含烟，月明如素愁不眠。"
rì sè yù jìn huā hán yān, yuè míng rú sù chóu bù mián.
The waning daylight veils flowers in misty hue, The moon shines white as silk—sleepless from thoughts of you.
This couplet employs scenery to reflect emotion, creating a hazy, tranquil atmosphere. The twilight blossoms and luminous moon radiate melancholy, mirroring the protagonist's restless longing.
Second Stanza: "赵瑟初停凤凰柱，蜀琴欲奏鸳鸯弦。"
zhào sè chū tíng fèng huáng zhù, shǔ qín yù zòu yuān yāng xián.
The Zhao lute rests, its phoenix pegs still warm, The Shu zither's mandarin-duck strings await my mourn.
Using musical instruments as emotional metaphors, the poet shows the woman's inner conflict—yearning to express her feelings yet fearing intensified sorrow.
Third Stanza: "此曲有意无人传，愿随春风寄燕然。忆君迢迢隔青天。"
cǐ qǔ yǒu yì wú rén chuán, yuàn suí chūn fēng jì yān rán. yì jūn tiáo tiáo gé qīng tiān.
This tune brims with love none can convey, May spring winds carry it to Yanran far away. My lord, I recall—beyond azure skies you stray.
Here, imagination transforms spring breezes into messengers of longing, emphasizing impassable distance and helpless devotion.
Fourth Stanza: "昔日横波目，今作流泪泉。不信妾断肠，归来看取明镜前。"
xī rì héng bō mù, jīn zuò liú lèi quán. bù xìn qiè duàn cháng, guī lái kàn qǔ míng jìng qián.
Once my glance danced like ripples light, Now becomes a fountain of tears in night. Doubt my heartbreak? Return and see The mirror's proof of agony.
Transitioning from past joy to present sorrow, tears become love's starkest symbol. The climactic plea—"return and see"—reveals desperate hope with heartbreaking vulnerability.
Comprehensive Analysis
The poem meticulously traces a woman's solitary experience—her observations, auditory impressions, thoughts, and emotions—to depict separation's anguish. Progressing from external scenes (sunset, moonlight) to internal reflections (music, wind, tears), the lyric deepens emotionally with each stanza. Its authentic sentiment and graceful diction blend Li Qingzhao's tenderness with the "Nineteen Ancient Poems'" poignant melancholy.
Artistic Innovations
- Scenery-Emotion Fusion: Twilight, moonlight, and music intensify the lovesickness theme.
- Personification & Symbolism: Musical notes embody longing; spring winds become couriers, enriching poetic beauty.
- Layered Emotional Progression: From nightly yearning to musical impulse, then wind-borne messages, culminating in tearful appeal—each step deepens the emotional impact.
- Cultural Allusions: References to "Zhao lute," "Shu zither," and "mandarin-duck strings" add classical elegance and含蓄 (subtle resonance).
Insights
This lyric transcends historical context to speak universally about love's bittersweet nature. The woman's fidelity reminds us to cherish present bonds before distance magnifies their value. Her wish to send love via spring winds suggests that even unfulfilled longing contains hope—a sentiment echoing across millennia with undiminished power to move hearts. Ultimately, the poem celebrates love's endurance while mourning its inevitable absences, offering timeless consolation to separated lovers.
Poem translator
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Li Bai (李白), 701 - 762 A.D., whose ancestral home was in Gansu, was preceded by Li Guang, a general of the Han Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the brightest constellations in the history of Chinese literature, and one of the brightest stars is Li Bai.
