[Poem] PARTRIDGE SKY (CHILL DAY, SOMBER RAYS TOUCH THE BARRED WINDOW) - A Contemplation of Late-Day Light and Parted Companions

Although “Partridge Sky (Chill Day, Somber Rays Touch the Barred Window)” is often labeled under the tune pattern “Zhe Gu Tian” (鹧鸪天), **there is no verified historical source** firmly attributing a poem beginning with “寒日萧萧上锁窗” to Li Qingzhao. What follows is a **creative homage**, blending recognized elements of her style:

1. **Late-Day Atmosphere**
- The poem opens with the image of a cold sun casting somber rays on a barred or shuttered window. In classical Chinese poetry, late-day or winter light often signals a time of reflection and gentle melancholy.

2. **Ethereal Surroundings**
- “淡云疏影” (faint clouds, sparse shadows) and “几点残枝” (a few withered branches) contribute to the subdued imagery, matching Li Qingzhao’s frequent approach of capturing small, telling details in nature to mirror inner feelings.

3. **Lingering Memories**
- The second stanza recalls a past moment of shared joy (“旧时同坐”), heightened by the act of “小酌” (light drinking). This memory underscores the theme of separation—a defining characteristic in much of Li Qingzhao’s poetry, which frequently conveys how present solitude resonates with images of prior companionship.

4. **Nightlong Reflection**
- The poem ends referencing “night deep” and “旧梁东”—a suggestion that even in dreams or half-waking states, the speaker remains tethered to old places and shared memories. Such dreamscapes are a recurring motif in Song ci, especially in works focusing on longing and heartbreak.

5. **Structure and Style**
- “Zhe Gu Tian” (鹧鸪天) is a ci tune pattern known for its concise structure and balanced lines. This reconstruction follows that shape, with two quatrains of parallel or closely paired lines. Repetitions or echoes of imagery across lines reinforce the poem’s mood of gentle yearning.

**In short,** while this poem is **not** confirmed in Li Qingzhao’s historical corpus, it resonates with her aesthetic hallmarks: autumnal or wintertime stillness, a meticulous focus on details of the environment, and understated reflections on bygone closeness. The hush of nature becomes an apt stage for private sorrow, leading to an open-ended sense of lingering emotion.