Shen Garden (No. 2) - Lu You
/沈园(其二) - 陆游/
Where Broken Dreams and Old Willows Entwine
【Original Chinese】
沈园(其二)
梦断香消四十年，
沈园柳老不吹绵。
此身行作稽山土，
犹吊遗踪一泫然。
【Literal English Translation (Line by Line)】
Shen Garden (No. 2)
It’s been forty years since the dream was shattered, its fragrance gone;
Now the willows in Shen Garden have grown old and no longer scatter their fluff.
This body of mine will soon become part of the Ji Mountain soil;
Yet I still come here to mourn what remains, shedding tears in my grief.
沈园(其二)
梦断香消四十年，
沈园柳老不吹绵。
此身行作稽山土，
犹吊遗踪一泫然。
【Literal English Translation (Line by Line)】
Shen Garden (No. 2)
It’s been forty years since the dream was shattered, its fragrance gone;
Now the willows in Shen Garden have grown old and no longer scatter their fluff.
This body of mine will soon become part of the Ji Mountain soil;
Yet I still come here to mourn what remains, shedding tears in my grief.
This second poem referencing Shen Garden (沈园) continues Lu You’s deeply personal elegy for his former wife, Tang Wan, and the memories bound to this location. While “Shen Garden (No. 1)” laments the transformation of a once-vibrant spot, “Shen Garden (No. 2)” underscores the vast expanse of time—“forty years”—that has passed since their parting, highlighting how love and regret can endure well into later life.
1. **Four Decades of Separation**
- “梦断香消四十年” sets the emotional tone. The ‘dream’ references the youthful bond Lu You once shared with Tang Wan, now irretrievably broken. Even the ‘fragrance’ of that era has dissipated, implying the fading of immediate sensations but not the poet’s attachment.
2. **Aging Willows, Fading Vibrancy**
- By drawing attention to the garden’s willows that “no longer scatter their fluff,” Lu You subtly likens them to himself—both have grown old and lost their youthful vigor. In classical Chinese imagery, willows often signify parting or fleeting encounters. Their now silent, fluff-free branches mirror the poet’s resigned sorrow.
3. **Mortal Limitations**
- The poet acknowledges his mortality: “This body of mine will soon become part of Ji Mountain soil.” Ji Mountain (稽山) is in the Shaoxing area (Zhejiang Province), where Lu You spent much of his life. His comment suggests a final return to his native land, or at least a resting place among familiar surroundings.
4. **Unabated Grief**
- Despite the many years and changes, Lu You still visits Shen Garden, mourning “what remains” of the once-shared bond. The tearful reflection (“一泫然”) conveys that while outward circumstances move on—people age, places transform—an unhealed ache can linger indefinitely.
5. **A Poetic Legacy**
- Together with his first Shen Garden poem, these lines have fueled one of the most poignant love stories in Chinese literary lore. They show Lu You at his most vulnerable, expressing how personal sorrow intertwines with the inexorable passage of time.
Ultimately, “Shen Garden (No. 2)” reinforces the notion that some experiences—especially those tied to early love and heartbreak—resonate through one’s entire life. Just as the willows have aged, so has the poet; yet the emotional imprint remains as forceful as ever. In a few spare lines, Lu You melds personal history, the changing face of a beloved place, and the quiet acceptance that even in the twilight of life, certain wounds remain tender.
Key points
• Emphasizes the long interval—forty years—since a treasured bond was severed.
• Uses aging willows as a parallel to the poet’s own advancing years.
• Acknowledges mortality—Lu You foresees returning to the earth of his homeland.
• Demonstrates how sorrow tied to a specific place can span decades, shaping a poet’s emotional landscape.
