Memories of Jiangnan (Spring Has Passed) - Liu Yuxi
/忆江南(春去也) - 刘禹锡/
Where Soft Breezes Recall the Past
春去也，
Spring has departed,
烟波江上绿波生。
On the misted river, green waves begin to rise.
小楼犹忆旧时情。
The little tower recalls memories of old affections.
芳草无情更何处，
In the grass’s indifferent sprawl, where can I find them now?
唯有离思伴月明。
Only parting thoughts remain, shining beneath the moon.
Spring has departed,
烟波江上绿波生。
On the misted river, green waves begin to rise.
小楼犹忆旧时情。
The little tower recalls memories of old affections.
芳草无情更何处，
In the grass’s indifferent sprawl, where can I find them now?
唯有离思伴月明。
Only parting thoughts remain, shining beneath the moon.
“Memories of Jiangnan (Spring Has Passed)” follows the typical form of the Yi Jiangnan (忆江南) lyric, a ci genre renowned for its concision and musical cadence. In this piece, Liu Yuxi laments the departure of spring—an ever-recurring theme in classical Chinese poetry—while capturing the bittersweet atmosphere of Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River).
In the first line, the exclamation “春去也” (“Spring has departed”) immediately sets a wistful tone. The following images of a mist-shrouded river and emerging green waves highlight nature’s inevitable cycles: while spring fades, new life stirs in subtle ways. The little tower evokes a moment of personal reflection; once a lively place of gatherings and shared joys, it now harbors only memories.
The fourth line contrasts the lush grass with the speaker’s sense of loss. The grass is depicted as “indifferent,” reflecting nature’s impartial progression. Its growth continues, regardless of human longing or the shifting of seasons. In the final line, “parting thoughts” remain as an undercurrent of nostalgia—tied to the moonlight, a symbol that bridges distances and unites past and present in the poet’s mind.
Overall, the poem intertwines seasonal imagery with personal emotion, demonstrating how the external world of nature mirrors inner states of mind. This reflective stance is characteristic of Tang and Song Dynasty poetry, wherein the simplest natural scenes become vessels for deep spiritual or emotional meaning. Liu Yuxi’s lines remind readers that the transition from spring to summer can evoke both regret for what is lost and a tender hope in what remains.
Key points
• Uses the yi (忆) or ‘remembering’ motif to highlight both nostalgia and the passage of time.
• Employs Jiangnan’s famed scenery—misty rivers, soft grasses—to reflect changing emotions.
• Juxtaposes natural indifference with human longing, underscoring life’s ongoing cycle.
• Demonstrates how ci poetry blends brevity, musicality, and a quiet depth of sentiment.
