I join the army far away.
Who'd send me warm clothes for cold day?
The mountain pass is clad in snow;
My dream of her loom brings me woe.
Original Poem:
「悼伤后赴东蜀辟至散关遇雪」
李商隐
剑外从军远，无家与寄衣。
散关三尺雪，回梦旧鸳机。
Interpretation:
This poem was written by Li Shangyin during his journey to Dongchuan to join the military. The background of the poem is his sorrow after the sudden death of his wife in 851 (the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty). At this time, Li Shangyin was recruited by Liu Zhongying to join the military, and he faced severe winter snowstorms during his journey. While still mourning his wife’s death, he was leaving his homeland. Through this poem, the poet vividly portrays the inner pain and the hardships of the journey.
First couplet: “剑外从军远，无家与寄衣。”
(The military destination is far beyond the Sword, with no home to return to and no one to send me clothing.)
These opening lines directly highlight the poet’s physical and emotional isolation during the journey. Not only is he far from home, but he also faces the pain of his wife’s death, and in the cold winter, no one is there to send him warm clothes. This combination of emotional loneliness and physical coldness creates a deep abyss of suffering.
Second couplet: “散关三尺雪，回梦旧鸳机。”
(At the mountain pass, three feet of snow accumulates. After falling into a deep sleep, I dream of my wife sitting at the old embroidery frame, stitching clothes for me.)
The poet uses "three feet of snow at the mountain pass" to depict the harsh and obstructive conditions of the journey, while the snow connects with solitude. The dream of his wife, on the other hand, is a manifestation of his deep yearning for home and his beloved. The contrast between the dream of warmth and the painful reality of snow further intensifies the feelings of sadness and loneliness.
Writing Features:
- Layered Emotional Progression
The poet begins by expressing his loneliness with “far from home” and “no home to return to,” then deepens this sense of isolation and hardship by describing the snow. Finally, through the memory of his wife stitching clothes in his dream, the poet introduces a warm recollection. Each emotional layer builds upon the previous one, creating an escalating sense of sorrow. - Clever Use of Symbolism and Contrast
Snow and dreams serve as two symbols for the poet’s emotions. The snow symbolizes the harshness and loneliness of the journey, while the dream of his wife and the old embroidery frame represent warmth and a sense of belonging. By contrasting the snow and the dream, the poet highlights the emotional gulf between the cold, indifferent reality and the warmth of his memories, amplifying the emotional impact. - Subtle Emotional Depiction
The poet uses specific details, such as "no home to return to" and "old embroidery frame," to express abstract sadness. Every small detail of daily life is imbued with deep emotion, making the poem more genuine and moving. The dream's details especially reveal the poet’s profound yearning and sense of loss for his wife.
Overall Analysis:
In this poem, Li Shangyin skillfully uses the contrast between dreams and reality to showcase a complex inner world. Faced with the loneliness of joining the military and the hardships of the journey, the poet conveys his inner emptiness and dependence through phrases like "no home to return to" and "no one to send me clothing." The snow and obstacles further enhance the sense of loneliness. However, through the dream of his wife and the "old embroidery frame," the poet brings forth warm memories and deep longing for home. The poem is sincere and delicate, with clear emotional layers, showing the poet’s sense of loss and helplessness toward his wife, while also reflecting his complex emotions during this difficult journey.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Li Shangyin (李商隐), 813-858 AD, was a great poet of the late Tang Dynasty. His poems were on a par with those of Du Mu, and he was known as "Little Li Du". Li Shangyin was a native of Qinyang, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province. When he was a teenager, he lost his father at the age of nine, and was called "Zheshui East and West, half a century of wandering".
