Song of the Desolate Wanderer: Autumn Wind in the Willow Lanes
- Poetry of Jiang Kui
Through willow-lined lanes the autumn wind begins to rise,
The frontier town lies desolate under bleak skies.
A horse’s whinny fades into the distance—
Where has the rider gone?
From the watchtower, a lone horn moans.
My heart is heavy,
Made heavier by withered grass and thinning mist.
It feels like those years
When the general’s troops snaked through the desert sands.
I remember West Lake’s shores,
Where we floated in small boats with singing girls,
Making merry among evening flowers.
Are those companions still there?
Now, I imagine, emerald fades and crimson falls.
I scribble a poem on silk,
Waiting for wild geese to carry it south—
But fear they’ll rush past,
Bearing no word, breaking promises made.
Composed around 1190 during Emperor Guangzong's reign, this ci poem was written when Jiang Kui resided in Hefei. Though the city was once famed for its willow-lined streets, repeated warfare had left it desolate. Living amidst the sounds of neighing horses and distant horns, gazing at withered grasses and cold mists, the poet channeled his unrelieved melancholy into this work. Set to his original melody "Desolation Tune" (凄凉犯)—named after a mournful qin mode—the poem embodies sorrow through both lyrics and music. The preface further details Jiang's innovative "mode-blending" technique, showcasing his profound musical knowledge and metrical experimentation.
绿杨巷陌秋风起，边城一片离索。
马嘶渐远，人归甚处，戍楼吹角。
情怀正恶，更蓑草寒烟淡薄。
似当时、将军部曲，迤逦度沙漠。
追念西湖上，小舫携歌，晚花行乐。
旧游在否，想如今、翠凋红落。
漫写羊裙，等新雁来时系著。
怕匆匆、不肯寄与误后约。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.
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