声声慢(寻寻觅觅) - 李清照
Sheng Sheng Man (Seeking, Searching) - Li Qingzhao
Where Autumn’s Chill and Memories Intertwine
寻寻觅觅，
Seeking, searching—
冷冷清清，
So cold, so still,
凄凄惨惨戚戚。
So bleak, so sorrowful, so desolate.
乍暖还寒时候，
In the fleeting warmth before the chill returns,
最难将息。
That is when rest is hardest to find.
三杯两盏淡酒，
A few cups of light wine,
怎敌他、晚来风急？
Cannot withstand the fierce wind at dusk.
雁过也，
Wild geese pass overhead,
正伤心，
And in my grief,
却是旧时相识。
I recognize them from seasons gone by.
满地黄花堆积，
Chrysanthemums carpet the ground,
憔悴损，
Faded and withered,
如今有谁堪摘？
Who would even pick them now?
守着窗儿，
I sit by my window,
独自怎生得黑？
How will I endure the night alone?
梧桐更兼细雨，
Raindrops tap on the parasol trees,
到黄昏、
Until dusk falls,
点点滴滴。
Drop by drop.
这次第，
In moments like these,
怎一个愁字了得？
How can mere words convey my sorrow?
Seeking, searching—
冷冷清清，
So cold, so still,
凄凄惨惨戚戚。
So bleak, so sorrowful, so desolate.
乍暖还寒时候，
In the fleeting warmth before the chill returns,
最难将息。
That is when rest is hardest to find.
三杯两盏淡酒，
A few cups of light wine,
怎敌他、晚来风急？
Cannot withstand the fierce wind at dusk.
雁过也，
Wild geese pass overhead,
正伤心，
And in my grief,
却是旧时相识。
I recognize them from seasons gone by.
满地黄花堆积，
Chrysanthemums carpet the ground,
憔悴损，
Faded and withered,
如今有谁堪摘？
Who would even pick them now?
守着窗儿，
I sit by my window,
独自怎生得黑？
How will I endure the night alone?
梧桐更兼细雨，
Raindrops tap on the parasol trees,
到黄昏、
Until dusk falls,
点点滴滴。
Drop by drop.
这次第，
In moments like these,
怎一个愁字了得？
How can mere words convey my sorrow?
Li Qingzhao’s “Sheng Sheng Man (Seeking, Searching)” stands as one of the most iconic poems of the Song Dynasty, renowned for capturing the depth of sorrow and loneliness after personal loss. The poet, writing in the aftermath of her husband’s death and amid a country disrupted by war, weaves a seamless connection between her own despair and the withering autumn world around her.
In the opening lines, Li Qingzhao establishes a repetitive pattern of descriptors—“cold, still, bleak, sorrowful”—that intensifies the feeling of desolation. By beginning with “seeking, searching,” she signals her inward quest to reconcile painful memories and the yearning for solace that never quite arrives. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, where she alternates between describing her external surroundings and revealing her internal state.
The poet’s mention of a few cups of “light wine” offers insight into her attempts at relief: she hopes to numb or distract herself, but quickly discovers that even wine cannot keep the harsh wind (or harsh reality) at bay. When she notices migrating geese, a traditional symbol of departure and change, they evoke old memories of happier times. Their flight reminds her that life’s seasons and fortunes keep shifting—often bringing new pangs of loss or regret.
In the second half, Li Qingzhao places herself among fallen chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums traditionally symbolize both autumn and resilience. Here, however, they appear scattered and neglected, reflecting the poet’s own sense of being left behind. This feeling of waste and futility underlines the poem’s deep regret for what has passed. Even her once-cherished pastime of gazing at flowers or finding comfort in small joys feels unreachable, thanks to the crushing weight of sorrow.
As she sits by her window, enduring the steady patter of rain on parasol trees and the approach of dusk, Li Qingzhao reveals a longing that crosses both time and emotional distance. The final question—“How can mere words convey my sorrow?”—demonstrates how language itself struggles under the burden of her grief. Yet ironically, the poem’s power lies precisely in the musical, measured language that draws us into her experience of sorrow.
Throughout “Sheng Sheng Man (Seeking, Searching),” Li Qingzhao interlaces environment and emotion so skillfully that the autumn landscape feels like an extension of her inner world. This style, marked by vivid impressionistic details and a confessional tone, helped shape her legacy as one of the most celebrated female poets in Chinese literature. Her voice—both fragile and determined—continues to resonate, offering modern readers a poignant reflection on how easily time and circumstance can strip away one’s sense of security, leaving a profound ache in their wake.
In essence, the poem stands as a testament to Li Qingzhao’s artistry: capturing heartbreak and longing within the simple, intimate snapshots of everyday life. Her ability to transform personal sorrow into universal resonance has ensured that “Sheng Sheng Man” remains not just a canonical work, but also a source of enduring empathy for anyone who has experienced profound loss and found themselves at a loss for words.
Key points
• Showcases Li Qingzhao’s signature fusion of external scenes (autumn flowers, wind, rain) and internal grief.
• Explores the longing and loneliness following the loss of loved ones and stable circumstances.
• Illustrates the effectiveness of repetition to emphasize despair.
• Demonstrates how classical Chinese poets used everyday imagery—wine, windows, chrysanthemums—to convey deep emotional truths.
• Highlights the timeless emotional depth of Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry, which continues to resonate centuries later.