Spring Rain - Li Shangyin
/春雨 - 李商隐/
A Reflection on Fleeting Longing Beneath Springtime Showers
怅卧新春白袷衣
In this newborn spring, I lie listless in a white robe
白门寥落意多违
Behind the pale gates, emptiness looms, and cherished hopes go unfulfilled
红楼隔雨相望冷
A red mansion stands beyond the rain, cold and forlorn to my distant gaze
珠箔飘灯独自归
Beaded curtains flutter by lamplight as I return alone
远路应悲春晼晚
One traveling afar must lament spring’s fading twilight
残宵犹得梦依稀
In the lingering night, I find only faint dreams
玉珰缄札何由达
Sealed jade tokens and letters—how can they ever reach their destination?
万里云罗一雁飞
A single wild goose crosses boundless skies and clouds
“Spring Rain” by Li Shangyin depicts a mood of wistfulness set against the quiet melancholy of a freshly arrived spring. The poet begins by describing his own state—lying in a white robe, disheartened, while the world around him feels deserted and subdued. This stark setting reinforces a sense of emotional and physical isolation. He then introduces the poignant image of a red mansion glimpsed through the spring rain, separated from him both by physical distance and by the cool veil of weather, heightening the feeling of longing.
As the poem progresses, Li Shangyin reflects on the inexorable flow of time: the twilight of spring alludes to how swiftly the season—and by extension, life—can slip away, leaving only intangible dreams. He contrasts this impermanence with tangible symbols of connection: sealed jade tokens, meant to convey intimacy or message, but seemingly impossible to deliver. In the final couplet, a solitary goose traverses a vast expanse of sky, underscoring the poet’s yearning for any sign of connection amid overwhelming distance.
Throughout the poem, Li Shangyin’s language weaves together the natural world, emotional states, and the ephemeral passage of time—one of his trademark styles. The gentle rain of spring might typically signify renewal, yet here it highlights the poet’s underlying sorrow, reminding us that even hopeful seasons can carry the weight of longing. By blending personal emotion with the broader context of nature, Li Shangyin invites readers to share in his bittersweet introspection. The poem ultimately resonates with anyone who has felt that powerful mixture of hope and regret, signifying how the most delicate changes in season can amplify human yearning and nostalgia.
Key points
1. Spring, often associated with renewal, can paradoxically heighten feelings of isolation and melancholy.
2. Physical distance and emotional longing merge through vivid imagery like the distant mansion and solitary goose.
3. Li Shangyin’s poetic style fuses personal emotions with nature’s subtle transformations, reflecting the universality of human yearning.