Elegy on My Deceased Wife II by Yuan Zhen

I find three or four sheets of your letters fine;
The words of your handwriting often go out of line.
You cared not for your hunger every other day,
If I was fed in deep mountains on my long way.

Original Poem:

「六年春遣怀八首 · 其二」
检得旧书三四纸，高低阔狭粗成行。
自言并食寻常事，唯念山深驿路长。

元稹

Interpretation:

This poem is the second of a series of mourning poems written by the Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. It expresses Yuan Zhen's deep sorrow and remembrance of his wife, Wei Cong, who passed away at the age of 27. In this poem, Yuan Zhen reflects on his emotions by describing the scene of sorting through old belongings, showcasing his intense longing and lamentation for his deceased wife. At the time, Yuan Zhen had been demoted to a military post in Jiangling due to offending the palace eunuchs, which deepened his sense of loneliness and yearning for his wife.

First couplet: “检得旧书三四纸，高低阔狭粗成行。”
(While sorting through old items, I found a few pages of letters written by Wei Cong. The handwriting was uneven, with some lines wide and others narrow.)
The poet emphasizes the irregularity of his wife's handwriting, which at first glance appears chaotic, but to the poet, it is familiar and endearing. The detailed description of the letter’s condition conveys the poet's deep affection and nostalgia for his wife.

Second couplet: “自言并食寻常事，唯念山深驿路长。”
(In the letters, she spoke of the hardships of life, often having to "share meals" as a routine. Yet, her greatest concern was whether I could endure the long and arduous journey through the mountains.)
The content of the letters reveals Wei Cong’s deep concern for her husband. She mentions their difficult life, yet downplays her own struggles while expressing her primary worry about her husband's well-being during his travels. She prioritizes his health and safety, showing care and selflessness.

Writing Characteristics:

1. Authenticity in Detail
   Yuan Zhen captures the simplicity and sincerity of Wei Cong’s character through the subtle description of her handwriting. The letter’s content is plain, but it conveys deep emotion. This understated narrative highlights her care for her husband and her resilient attitude toward life.
2. Simple, Unadorned Style
   The poem employs a straightforward, natural language style that perfectly complements its subject matter. The absence of flowery language in the letter underscores the couple’s deep emotional bond and the simplicity of their shared life.
3. Subtlety and Depth of Emotion
   Through the narration of a mundane event—sorting through old books—the poet reveals his endless longing for his deceased wife. Rather than explicitly expressing grief, Yuan Zhen uses the details of the letter to evoke deep sorrow and profound affection for his wife.

Overall Analysis:

This poem skillfully conveys the poet’s mourning for his wife through the depiction of a simple act—sorting through her belongings. By describing the handwriting and content of a letter, Yuan Zhen highlights Wei Cong’s character and the deep affection shared between them. Though the language is plain and unadorned, this simplicity effectively communicates genuine emotion. The poet turns his mourning into a remembrance of his wife’s character, showcasing the couple's tacit understanding and care for each other.

The unembellished style fits perfectly within the genre of mourning poetry, emphasizing heartfelt expression while avoiding excessive ornamentation or artificiality. This approach allows Yuan Zhen’s feelings for his wife to shine through without the need for dramatic displays of sorrow, instead relying on delicate descriptions to reveal the poet's inner grief.

Insights:

This poem teaches us that sincere emotion often does not require grandiose language. It is the simple, detailed portrayal of everyday moments that expresses the truest feelings. Yuan Zhen uses small details in this mourning poem to convey his deep longing for his wife. For us, the trivialities and details of daily life often hold the most authentic and moving expressions of emotion.

Poem translator:

Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)

About the poet:

Yuan Zhen (元稹), 779-831 A.D., was a native of Luoyang, Henan Province, who was poor in his early years, but later became an official and finally died of a violent illness. He was friendly with Bai Juyi and often sang with him, and was known as “Yuan Bai”.