Distant Journey of Longing - Li Shangyin
/望远行 - 李商隐/
A Reflective Glimpse into Unreachable Horizons
柔情入夜无从诉
Night descends with gentle longing, no words can convey
华灯半照客心孤
Beneath half-lit lamps, a lonely heart roams far away
繁星摇曳银河浅
Stars flicker above a shallow Milky Way
万里相思羁旅途
In journeys across a thousand miles, yearning holds sway
花绽春枝当此际
Flowers bloom in spring, yet soon they fade
湮没秋尘何日归
Lost in autumn dust, when shall home be made?
欲寄相思同明月
I would entrust my longing to the bright moon on high
层云依旧锁重扉
Still the layered clouds bar heaven's gate, granting no reply
In this poem attributed to Li Shangyin, the speaker contemplates the intricate blend of longing, separation, and natural transition across the seasons. The opening stanza introduces a quiet, nocturnal mood, underscored by the image of half-lit lamps and distant stars—symbolizing a heart that feels both illuminated by hope and simultaneously veiled in solitude. References to the Milky Way highlight the vast distance that separates loved ones, portraying the night sky as both beautiful and isolating.
The second stanza advances the poem’s central theme of impermanence. Spring flowers, emblematic of life’s fleeting joys, swiftly yield to the dust of autumn. This shifting of seasons becomes a metaphor for the emotional voyage undertaken by the speaker—emphasizing how moments of warmth and growth inevitably slip into regret and uncertainty. In a direct appeal to the moon, the speaker yearns for deliverance of thoughts and affections. Yet, even the heavens seem distant, with layered clouds preventing any clear response.
Li Shangyin’s poetry often weaves together romantic yearning, vivid natural imagery, and a deep awareness of time’s unyielding passage. Here, the poem offers a snapshot of a soul caught between hope and heartbreak. The restless desire to break through cosmic barriers highlights the universality of human longing: whether near or far, we persistently reach out in the hope that someone, somewhere, may understand and respond. Through understated references to season, light, and atmosphere, the poem captures the tension between yearning for connection and the realities of human limitation—an emotional landscape as vast and mysterious as the sky itself.
Key points
1. Even the splendor of nature can underscore a sense of isolation when loved ones are distant.
2. Seasonal change symbolizes life’s inevitable cycles of growth and loss.
3. Hope endures despite obstacles, reflecting the persistent human desire for connection.
4. The poem combines subtle imagery with heartfelt emotion, characteristic of Li Shangyin’s reflective style.
