[Poem] PIN ON HER HAIRPIN (SOFT RED HANDS) - A Glimpse into Love, Regret, and Lingering Spring

A traditional Chinese garden with a melancholic atmosphere. A red-haired woman in ancient Chinese silk robes is standing by a pavilion, holding a hairpin, looking sorrowful. The scene should include blooming peach blossoms and falling petals to symbolize lost love and fading beauty. The color palette should be soft and nostalgic, evoking feelings of longing and regret.

钗头凤(红酥手) - 陆游

Pin on Her Hairpin (Soft Red Hands) - Lu You

Where Broken Vows and Spring’s Turbulent Breeze Meet

【Original Chinese】

钗头凤(红酥手)

红酥手,黄藤酒,
满城春色宫墙柳。
东风恶,欢情薄,
一怀愁绪,几年离索。
错、错、错!

春如旧,人空瘦,
泪痕红浥鲛绡透。
桃花落,闲池阁,
山盟虽在,锦书难托。
莫、莫、莫!

【Literal English Translation (Line by Line)】

Pin on Her Hairpin (Soft Red Hands)

Soft red hands, yellow rattan wine—
All through the city, spring spreads, willows drape the palace walls.
The east wind is cruel, warm joys prove thin,
A heartful of sorrow—years of parting and loss.
Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Spring remains the same, yet one grows lean in vain,
Red tears stain the gauzy silk.
Peach blossoms drift, the pond and pavilion lie idle,
Though the pledge of mountains endures, no embroidered letter can be entrusted.
No, no, no!

“Pin on Her Hairpin (Soft Red Hands)” by Lu You (1125–1210) is among the most famous ci poems of the Southern Song Dynasty, treasured for its poignant reflection on lost love. It is widely believed that Lu You wrote this poem after a chance encounter with his former wife, Tang Wan, in the gardens of Shen Yuan. The circumstances of their forced separation—against their will—led each to remarry, yet their affection remained unresolved.

In just two short stanzas, Lu You conveys the intertwined themes of spring’s deceptive beauty and the enduring ache of an unhealed wound. “Soft red hands, yellow rattan wine” evoke a fleeting moment of shared warmth or memory, but the “east wind” swiftly unravels the fragile happiness. The poet laments the passage of years steeped in “parting and loss,” underscored by the repeated cry of “错、错、错” (wrong, wrong, wrong!).

The second stanza connects the poet’s ongoing sorrow—“one grows lean in vain”—with the unstoppable cycle of spring: although nature reawakens, the poet remains trapped in regret. The phrase “山盟虽在,锦书难托” (though the pledge of mountains still stands, no embroidered letter can be entrusted) highlights how a once-passionate vow—symbolized by a grand oath upon mountains—has been rendered meaningless in the face of forced separation and present realities.

In the end, “莫、莫、莫” (no, no, no!) mirrors the finality and frustration that overshadow both the poet’s longing and the resurrected spring. This contradiction—a season of renewal against a broken personal bond—makes the poem a timeless symbol of deep regret. Through carefully chosen images (red tears, drifting peach blossoms, idle pondside pavilions), Lu You fuses external scenery and inner sorrow. The result is a masterful depiction of how abiding heartache can linger despite spring’s outward revival.

Key points

• Depicts the aftermath of a forced separation between Lu You and his former wife, Tang Wan.
• Pairs spring’s apparent renewal (willow-draped walls, drifting blossoms) with the poet’s unresolved grief.
• Uses repetition (“错、错、错” and “莫、莫、莫”) to heighten emotional intensity.
• Demonstrates the Southern Song ci tradition of mirroring personal sorrow through evocative nature imagery.

Comments
  • Abstract Nova

    It’s remarkable how 陆游 conveys complex feelings without over-explaining. Subtlety at its finest.

  • Lunar Horizon

    Imagine writing such verses after years apart!

  • AetherGuar

    Historically speaking, this era produced incredible art born out of hardship. 陆游 epitomizes resilience through words.

  • Mystic Lunar Prism

    When compared to Byron’s romantic poems, this piece holds its ground. East meets West in shared melancholy.

  • Royal Cheetah

    This poem reminds me of unfulfilled promises and heartbreaks.

  • Calm Red Bee Den

    How relatable to feel joy fade into regret.

  • Radiant Pixel Fusion

    东风恶 feels symbolic of fate's cruelty.

  • Silent Dragon

    This work stands out among classical Chinese poetry for its emotional intensity. Truly unforgettable.

  • Brave White Lion

    Unlike 杜甫’s more politically charged poems, 陆游 zeroes in on intimate pain. Both styles leave lasting impressions though.

  • NeonDreams

    Thinking about global conflicts now, I realize how universal 陆游’s lament truly is. Love torn apart by forces beyond control.

  • Bold Red Stallion

    ‘莫、莫、莫’—a desperate plea for closure.

  • Epic Jade Wolf Den

    If only letters could bridge the gap between lovers...

  • Mighty Red Hawk

    'Tears soaking silk'—the sadness here is palpable.

  • Nerdy Red Cat Pit

    The repetition of '错' drives home the finality of mistakes. No second chances here, only regret.

  • Wild Jade Cat Den

    This poem echoes modern-day breakups too well.

  • Light Dragon

    The poet’s use of contrasts—spring versus sorrow—is masterful. It heightens the sense of loss tenfold.

  • Infinite Digital Echo

    The structure itself mimics fragmented thoughts—a perfect match for the content’s chaotic emotions.

  • Swift Green Fox Den

    Every line carries weight, like a heavy sigh.

  • Crimson Star

    I wonder if this was inspired by his own life struggles.

  • EagleFrost

    One can almost picture the scene: willow trees swaying against palace walls, a man drowning in memories.

  • CometRange

    The imagery of spring and sorrow is hauntingly vivid.

  • Fierce Black Wolf

    Would love to see this adapted into a film.

  • ChromeTige

    Some say poetry heals wounds, but here it seems to reopen them instead. Brutally honest.

  • Mystic Falcon

    There’s something profoundly human about how 陆游 captures fleeting happiness turning into lasting sorrow. It mirrors many stories across cultures.

  • FrostByteX

    Just heard news of a couple reuniting after decades apart—it reminded me of this poem’s themes of separation and yearning.

  • Radiant Pixel Fusion

    I admire how he intertwines external elements (like wind) with internal struggles. Symbolism done right.

  • Celestial Cyber Rhythm

    In today’s fast-paced world, we rarely pause to reflect on our losses like 陆游 did. His words still resonate deeply.

  • Burning Cobra

    This poem speaks volumes about societal pressures back then. Forbidden love remains a timeless theme worldwide.

  • Vicious Bear

    Each stanza feels like peeling layers off a wound. Painful yet cathartic to read.

  • Candid Beetle

    陆游’s pain feels so real; it transcends time and space.

  • FrostTitan

    While some poems focus solely on beauty, this one dives straight into emotional turmoil. A bold choice that pays off.

  • Storm Ghost

    A poignant tale of lost love, beautifully captured in words.

  • Sharp Red Panther

    Such raw emotion—'错、错、错' hits deep.

  • Gentle Dove

    Feels like reading an ancient diary of despair.

  • Valiant Surge

    Recently read about poets exiled from their homes—it struck me how much 陆游 might’ve felt displaced too, just like them.

  • Luminous Arc

    It’s as if every word bleeds with longing.

  • Swift Green Fox Den

    What fascinates me most is how 陆游 balances natural imagery with personal anguish. Nature thrives while humans suffer.

  • Light Arrow

    Spring blooms but hearts don’t heal—that contrast hurts.

  • LaserBlade

    Reading 钗头凤 today made me think about how even centuries ago, people grappled with similar emotions. Heartbreak doesn’t age.

  • Lunar Wolf

    This poem makes me ponder recent historical dramas depicting forbidden love during war times. So relevant yet timeless.

  • Golden Wolf

    Though written long ago, these lines mirror modern tales of estranged partners. Art imitating life indeed.

  • Brisk Plover

    Comparing this to 李清照’s works shows different shades of grief.

  • Thunder Falcon

    Reading this alongside 李白’s carefree verses highlights two sides of human experience: joy vs. sorrow.

  • Neon Flash

    The phrase 'tears soaking silk' struck me—it’s not just sadness but also fragility laid bare. Beautifully tragic.

  • Wild Falcon

    Even amidst lush descriptions of spring, the underlying grief dominates. A bittersweet masterpiece.

Share
Time really flies when you're having fun!
Available in
Recommended Video
more