[Poem] ZHOU YE LE (FIRST MEETING IN THE BRIDAL CHAMBER) - A Glimpse of Love Grown Bitter through Separation

In “Zhou Ye Le (First Meeting in the Bridal Chamber),” Liu Yong uses the ci form to reveal the emotional transition from newlywed bliss to the sorrow of parting. The title itself, “昼夜乐,” means “Day and Night Music,” alluding to a tune—originally a musical mode—to which these lyrics were set.

The poem begins by recalling the intimacy of a bridal chamber scene, where the couple seemed destined for ongoing happiness. Their short, secret tryst, however, unexpectedly transforms into prolonged suffering. This tension between bliss and anguish is central to Liu Yong’s style: moments of tenderness are abruptly swept away, replaced by a pining that colors every note of daily life.

A key motif here is the power of music. The speaker finds himself “dwelling in the tower with pipa and flutes,” instruments that ordinarily enhance festivities. Now, though, their tunes are turned to ‘tones of farewell.’ By highlighting the shift from joyous harmony to sorrow-laden melodies, Liu Yong encapsulates how external surroundings can mirror the heart’s turmoil.

In the final lines, the poem contemplates whether the lovers could endure meeting again, given how painful such separations have proven. The distance invoked (“ends of the earth”) reflects the vast emotional gulf forced upon them. Even if they were physically close again, the bitter memory of earlier joy gone awry lingers. Thus, a once-blissful union becomes a haunting recollection.

Characteristic of Northern Song ci, the poem unites personal emotion with a precise melodic structure. Liu Yong’s language is unadorned yet deeply evocative, moving swiftly from the tenderness of first love to the heartache of inevitable parting. Through just a few lines, he illuminates how fleeting happiness can be and how it may transform into abiding sorrow. This intense focus on romantic longing and separation helped make Liu Yong one of the era’s most renowned ci poets.

Ultimately, “Zhou Ye Le (First Meeting in the Bridal Chamber)” resonates as a portrayal of how love’s sweet beginnings can lead to a keen awareness of impermanence. The poem remains cherished by readers who find in these lines an enduring testament to the complexities of human attachment, reminding us that fleeting moments of closeness can echo throughout a lifetime.