Complaint of Parting by Meng Jiao

The soughing autumn wind is blowing;
Grieved, I complain my man is going.
We face each other eye to eye;
Before I speak, I sob and sigh.
My heart is like a winding stream,
How can I tell my dreary dream?
When I miss him after we part,
We can but share moonlight apart.

Original Poem:

「古怨别」
飒飒秋风生，愁人怨离别。
含情两相向，欲语气先咽。
心曲千万端，悲来却难说。
别后唯所思，天涯共明月。

孟郊

Interpretation:

"Complaint of Parting" is a five-character ancient poem that vividly portrays the poignant and deeply touching scene of a couple parting ways. Set against the backdrop of an autumn farewell, the poem uses vivid details and a seamless blend of setting and emotion to express profound and steadfast love. The poet's depiction of parting sorrow is both realistic and moving, evoking strong emotional resonance and vivid imagery.

First Couplet:“飒飒秋风生，愁人怨离别。”
(The autumn wind whistles, deepening the sorrow of parting.)
The opening lines establish the time and season of parting, using the desolate autumn wind to underscore the mood of sorrow and separation. The poet skillfully uses the environment to set the emotional tone for the poem.

Second Couplet:“含情两相向，欲语气先咽。”
(The couple gazes at each other with deep affection, yet their words are choked by tears.)
This couplet captures the heart-wrenching moment of farewell with meticulous detail. The mutual gaze, laden with emotion, and the inability to speak due to overwhelming sadness convey the depth of their attachment and pain.

Third Couplet:“心曲千万端，悲来却难说。”
(Countless thoughts fill their hearts, but sorrow renders them speechless.)
Here, the poet delves into the complex emotions of the parting lovers. Though their hearts are brimming with words, the intensity of their grief leaves them at a loss for expression, highlighting the depth of their bond and mutual trust.

Fourth Couplet:“别后唯所思，天涯共明月。”
(After parting, only longing remains, as they share the same moon across the ends of the earth.)
The closing lines expand the imagery, envisioning the scene after their separation. The shared moon symbolizes their enduring connection and mutual longing, creating a poignant yet beautiful picture of love transcending distance.

Literary Features:

1. Integration of Scene and Emotion
   The poet incorporates natural elements such as the autumn wind and the moon to enhance the atmosphere of parting. By blending the setting with the characters' emotions, the poem achieves a profound and authentic resonance.
2. Attention to Detail
   Details such as “gazing at each other with deep affection” and “choked by tears” vividly depict the farewell scene, transforming abstract emotions into concrete imagery. This imbues the poem with strong visual appeal and emotional impact.
3. Varied Techniques
   Combining narrative, lyrical expression, and vivid description, the poet captures both physical actions and the inner turmoil of the characters. The imaginative portrayal of “sharing the same moon” enriches the poem with layers of meaning.
4. Simplicity with Depth
   The language is straightforward and unembellished, but expressions like “sorrow renders them speechless” profoundly convey the pain of parting and the depth of their love, allowing readers to empathize deeply.

Overall Appreciation:

This poem uses the autumn wind to evoke a sorrowful farewell atmosphere, the mutual gaze of the parting couple to depict their reluctance, and “speechless sorrow” to highlight their deep and complex emotions. Finally, “sharing the same moon” illustrates the lingering longing after their separation. The poem's authentic emotions, vivid imagery, and varied techniques make it deeply moving and unforgettable.

Insights:

"Complaint of Parting" reminds us to cherish the people we hold dear. Through its delicate emotional portrayal and implicit expression, the poem teaches us to appreciate those silent yet deeply meaningful moments shared during farewells.

Poem translator:

Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)

About the Poet:

Meng Jiao (孟郊) was born in 751 - 814 AD, a native of Deqing, Zhejiang Province. Meng Jiao's poems include more than 400 poems, most of which are about personal sorrows and loneliness, expressing cynicism, while some of them expose the social phenomenon of disparity between the rich and the poor, and sympathize with the people's suffering.