Jiangnan Journey (A Sad Song Can Serve as Tears) - Lu You
/江南行(悲歌可以当泣) - 陆游/
Reflections on Heartache and Boundless Yearning
悲歌可以当泣，
A mournful song can stand in for tears;
远望可以当归。
A distant gaze can resemble a homecoming.
愁肠已断无由醉，
Sorrow breaks my heart, leaving no solace in wine;
酒未到，先成泪。
Before the cup is lifted, tears have begun to flow.
年少抛人容易去，
In youth, it is easy to bid farewell and depart;
直教生死相依倚。
Yet it compels a bond through both life and death.
天涯地角有穷时，
The farthest ends of earth and sky may someday meet;
只有相思无尽处。
But longing alone endures without limit.
This poem, often referred to as “Jiangnan Journey,” reflects the profound sense of longing and sorrow characteristic of much of Lu You’s work. Each line conveys the emotional weight of distance and unfulfilled desire—whether it be longing for home, for a loved one, or for a return to better times. The imagery of tears and wine highlights the poet’s struggle to escape his grief, only to discover that sadness remains unquenchable.
The poem also captures the tension between life’s fleeting moments and the enduring nature of love and remembrance. While youth allows for swift departures, it also sparks deep connections that persist even through life and death. In these lines, the poet underlines the human condition: no matter how far we roam or how many obstacles we face, our deepest yearnings never truly leave us. The closing couplet points to the boundlessness of true longing—every corner of the earth might one day be explored or reached, yet the human heart’s capacity for yearning knows no final boundary.
This powerful exploration of separation, nostalgia, and devotion resonates across centuries. Lu You’s careful use of poetic language and subtle imagery continues to touch readers, offering them an intimate glimpse into the emotional landscape of an era that, although distant, still speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and hope.
Key points
• Yearning and sorrow often transcend time and place.
• Love can bind us beyond the confines of life.
• True longing is limitless and deeply human.
