[Poem] MAN JIANG HONG (YIZE GONG) - A Glimpse into Separation and Waning Seasons

“Man Jiang Hong” (满江红) is one of the grand tune patterns in Song Dynasty ci poetry, characterized by a robust and somewhat martial rhythm. Yet, in this representative reconstruction titled “Yize Gong” (夷则宫), the poet—presented in the style of Liu Yong—melds the tune’s vigor with themes of longing, nostalgia, and solitude.

Though the historical record does not confirm a version of “Man Jiang Hong” specifically subtitled “Yize Gong” by Liu Yong, the verse here draws upon hallmark motifs of his work: travel-worn exile, a late autumn atmosphere, and poignant memories of bygone companionship.

**Atmospheric Imagery**
The poem opens with the gloom of late autumn, featuring a lone boat under a sparsely star-lit sky. Chill winds and the faint outlines of far-off mist convey a sense of vast emptiness. Classical Chinese poetry often employs rivers and skies to symbolize the distance—both literal and emotional—that separates the poet from home or loved ones.

**Longing and Separation**
The speaker laments the extended delay of returning home, leaning against a railing in silent frustration. This posture—spending the night gazing into emptiness—embodies Liu Yong’s characteristic tone of yearning. The detail of a silken sash growing loose underscores the physical effect of pining and sorrow, a traditional image signifying weight loss or decline due to longing.

**Memories of Past Joy**
Midway through the poem, the poet recalls happier times in a lane adorned with apricot blossoms, referencing lighthearted conversation and lantern-lit evenings shared with a companion. This contrast between sweet memory and current isolation highlights the impermanence of life’s pleasures.

**A Sorrowful Present**
A warbling horn (or “画角”) breaks the night’s silence, intensifying the speaker’s homesickness. Dreams, thin as clouds, suggest that hope is slipping away. The final couplet returns to the immense river, symbolizing an ever-widening gap between the poet’s present circumstances and former bonds. The tide that recedes in the poem’s last lines mirrors the fading presence of old friends, leaving the poet with deep regret.

**Reflections on the Form**
“Man Jiang Hong” is known for its capacity to convey forceful emotion—be it patriotic fervor, lament for a lost era, or, in this reconstruction, personal sorrow. Liu Yong’s enduring legacy among Song ci poets lies partly in his deft interweaving of musical phrasing, vivid scenery, and the tender ache of hearts in separation. While the poem above is a creative piece paying homage to his style, it resonates with the same emotional palette that defines Liu Yong’s best-known works.

**Cultural and Emotional Resonance**
Themes such as the passage of youth, the fragility of shared moments, and the open question of whether or when reunions may occur are universal. The poem’s close—where the poet imagines distant friends fading with the ebb of the tide—speaks not only to personal separation but also to the intangible process by which human connections drift apart. By merging powerful imagery of the natural world with an inward sense of longing, “Man Jiang Hong (Yize Gong)” stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of Song Dynasty ci, wherein even sorrow finds an elegant, melodic voice.