English Rendering
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.
Dreaming of My Deceased Wife at Her Loom
- Poetry of Li Shangyin
《悼伤后赴东蜀辟至散关遇雪》
Original Text (中文原文)
剑外从军远，无家与寄衣。
散关三尺雪，回梦旧鸳机。
Analysis & Context
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.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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- The oriole Astray
- Song of My Proud Son
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- On Lady Yang's Death II
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- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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