马嵬(其二) - 李商隐
Mawei (No. 2) - Li Shangyin
A Poignant Lament for Vanished Splendor
海外徒闻更九州
Away in distant lands, one only hears rumors of Nine Provinces
他生未卜此生休
Uncertain is the next life; this life meets its abrupt end
空闻虎旅传宵柝
In vain, the night watch of the tiger-guard echoes through the dark
无复鸡人报晓筹
No more do dawn’s messengers call the day into being
此日六军同驻马
Today, the six armies have all reined in their horses
当时七夕笑牵牛
Once, on the Seventh Night, we laughed at the Herd-Boy’s tale
如何过得香闺里
How can one return to the fragrant boudoir now?
散似秋云无处收
Scattered like autumn clouds, there is nowhere to gather them again
In Li Shangyin’s poem “Mawei (No. 2),” the poet meditates on the tragedy and aftermath surrounding the Mawei Inn incident—often alluding to the downfall linked to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Lady Yang (Yang Guifei). Though not explicitly referencing them by name here, the poem captures the emotional ruins that linger after a grand love story and a flourishing era have collapsed. The lines open by hinting at distant rumors and uncertain futures, projecting the poet’s sense of exile and alienation.
The imagery of the night watch and daybreak calls evokes time’s relentless march, emphasizing the absence of all that once made life meaningful. Li Shangyin contrasts the memory of joyful moments—such as the Seventh Night (the traditional Qixi Festival)—with the stark reality of vanished warmth and camaraderie. The armies have halted, echoing political turmoil and a suspension of customary activity.
The closing couplet underscores the impossibility of returning to former happiness or restoring lost splendor. Comparing scattered memories to drifting autumn clouds, Li Shangyin conveys that once-bonded hearts and bygone glories cannot be repossessed or neatly reassembled. In this way, “Mawei (No. 2)” becomes an elegy for unfulfilled desire and a world forever changed, its fragments lingering only in distant recollections and wistful laments.
Key points
1. The poem laments irrecoverable losses—both personal affections and grand imperial flourishes.
2. Seasonal and celestial references (autumn clouds, the Seventh Night) highlight love’s fragility.
3. Li Shangyin’s blending of historical allusions with intimate longing invites readers to reflect on the transience of power and passion alike.
Comments
NovaEclipsLi Shangyin’s ability to juxtapose regal splendor with personal grief here calls to mind Bai Juyi’s “Song of Everlasting Regret.” While both reference Yang Guifei’s story, Li Shangyin’s approach is more oblique, focusing on the emotional aftershock rather than a sweeping narrative.
Lone Black Owl NestThe sorrow is so delicately conveyed, it’s like a faint perfume lingering after a banquet that ended too soon.
Neon Quantum VortexThe brevity of each image underscores the heartbreak, as though each word stands in for an unspoken lament.
Gritty GatorWhile brief, it suggests the lingering echoes of a grand romance turned tragedy—an unforgettable pivot from love to downfall.
SolarEclipReading this poem reminds me of how swiftly political climates can shift in modern times, too—one moment a revered figure, the next a scapegoat of national turmoil.
Lunar GhostSuch a few lines, yet they capture the echo of footsteps walking away from a once-glorious stage.
DawnBreakeIts language is delicate, as though the poet is mourning not just a fallen consort, but an entire era’s lost innocence.
MysticForcThe opening lines hold a hush of sadness, as though the poet speaks in a whisper out of respect for a memory too painful to confront directly.
Crimson TigerEven though the poem references a very specific historical event, Li Shangyin’s subtle emotional tone makes it universally relatable—the heartbreak of betrayal, the weight of regret.
Fabled OwlSometimes I think about how we idolize celebrities today, then swiftly cast them aside at the first sign of scandal—this poem offers a timeless reflection on the fragility of status and affection.
Royal SealLike Li Bai’s more celebratory works about the Tang court, “马嵬(其二)” also references imperial splendor. However, Li Shangyin injects a tragic undercurrent that reveals how even the most radiant scene can collapse under the heaviness of fate.
Brave Blue LionThis poem resonates with our current era of rapid social media condemnation. A single misstep can lead to public disgrace, much like the political fallout seen after Yang Guifei’s downfall.
Dark TigerThere’s an underlying note of pity, not just for Yang Guifei but for an empire that sacrificed its brightest moments to political unrest. The poet’s voice seems to say that even the grandest beauty can’t halt the wheels of power and suspicion. One can almost imagine the deserted palace corridors, filled with a hush that bears testimony to a tragic past. The poem’s solemn tone also underscores how human emotions—love, devotion, remorse—often collide with the machinery of state, leaving hearts broken and reputations tarnished. It’s this interplay of tenderness and history that makes “马嵬(其二)” resonate even now, reminding us that power struggles invariably extract a high emotional cost from those ensnared in them.
Sturdy IbexRevisiting these verses, I’m struck by how something as personal as grief can intertwine with the broader collapse of a political era. Li Shangyin’s refined, almost muted imagery intensifies the sense of unspeakable regret—an understanding that once the final curtain falls, no measure of longing can bring back the lost laughter. In modern contexts, it’s akin to those silent regrets we feel after a catastrophic event forces entire communities to rethink what they once held dear. The poem stands as both an elegy and a quiet warning: greatness, no matter how splendid, can vanish in a moment, leaving behind only the echoes of what might have been.
MoonRiderXIt feels like standing in the ruins of a palace, hearing faint echoes of laughter that have long since faded.
Dark ArrowShort yet searing, the poem leaves me with an image of tear-streaked court walls haunted by unspoken farewells.
Brisk Gray Cat PitIts haunting lines echo with deep sorrow, revealing a hidden grief under regal history.
FrostTitanIn “马嵬(其二),” Li Shangyin poignantly depicts the turbulence following Yang Guifei’s tragic end. The poem’s tone is layered with regret and lingering affection, as though the poet cannot fully resolve the tension between loyalty to the empire and the personal heartbreak entwined with this story. Even without explicit historical details, one feels the intensity of loss, a ghostly echo of passions and betrayals that shaped an era.
