《声声慢》 - 李清照

"Slow Song" is a renowned poem by the Song Dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao, known for its poignant expression of loneliness, sorrow, and the passage of time. The poem is believed to have been written during a period of Li Qingzhao's life marked by personal loss, political upheaval, and the bittersweet memories of her past.

《声声慢》
作者：李清照

寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚。
乍暖还寒时候，最难将息。
三杯两盏淡酒，怎敌他、晚来风急？
雁过也，正伤心，却是旧时相识。
满地黄花堆积，憔悴损，如今有谁堪摘？
守着窗儿，独自怎生得黑？
梧桐更兼细雨，到黄昏、点点滴滴。
这次第，怎一个愁字了得？

Searching and seeking, Cold, desolate, Miserable, sorrowful, desolate.

In this time of intermittent warmth and cold, It's the hardest to find rest.

Three cups, two glasses of light wine, How can they resist the sudden evening wind?

Wild geese fly by, Already heartbroken, Yet they are old acquaintances.

Yellow flowers piled up all over the ground, Withered and worn, Who would dare to pick them now?

Guarding the window, How can I endure the darkening night alone?

梧桐 trees and the fine drizzle, As dusk falls, Drips and trickles.

This time, How can one word of "sorrow" suffice?

The poem opens with a repetitive phrase that sets the tone for the melancholic mood: "寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚" (Searching and seeking, Cold, desolate, Miserable, sorrowful, desolate). The repetition of the verb "寻寻觅觅" (Searching and seeking) emphasizes the poet's relentless pursuit of something, perhaps lost love, happiness, or meaning in life, while the descriptive phrases "冷冷清清" (Cold, desolate), "凄凄惨惨" (Miserable, sorrowful), and "戚戚" (desolate) convey a sense of profound loneliness and despair.

The second couplet highlights the difficulty of finding solace in fleeting moments of warmth and comfort: "乍暖还寒时候，最难将息" (In this time of intermittent warmth and cold, It's the hardest to find rest). The phrase "乍暖还寒" (Intermittent warmth and cold) suggests the unpredictable nature of life, where moments of warmth are quickly followed by the chill of reality. The phrase "最难将息" (Hardest to find rest) emphasizes the poet's restlessness and inability to find peace amidst these contrasting emotions.

The third couplet introduces the motif of wine and its insufficient power to alleviate the poet's sorrows: "三杯两盏淡酒，怎敌他、晚来风急？" (Three cups, two glasses of light wine, How can they resist the sudden evening wind?). The phrase "三杯两盏淡酒" (Three cups, two glasses of light wine) suggests a modest attempt to find solace in alcohol, while the question "怎敌他、晚来风急？" (How can they resist the sudden evening wind?) highlights the futility of such efforts, as the persistent and forceful wind represents the relentless nature of the poet's sorrows.

The fourth couplet introduces the image of passing geese, evoking a sense of longing and nostalgia: "雁过也，正伤心，却是旧时相识" (Wild geese fly by, Already heartbroken, Yet they are old acquaintances). The phrase "雁过也" (Wild geese fly by) suggests the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life, while the phrase "正伤心" (Already heartbroken) mirrors the poet's own emotional state. The unexpected turn in the final line, "却是旧时相识" (Yet they are old acquaintances), adds a layer of complexity to the poet's emotions, suggesting a mix of sadness and recognition as she witnesses the geese, symbols of freedom and migration, passing by.

The fifth couplet paints a vivid picture of withered yellow flowers, symbolizing the passage of time and the decay of beauty: "满地黄花堆积，憔悴损，如今有谁堪摘？" (Yellow flowers piled up all over the ground, Withered and worn, Who would dare to pick them now?). The imagery of the yellow flowers, once vibrant and full of life, now withered and scattered, mirrors the poet's own fading youth and the loss of her former vitality. The rhetorical question "如今有谁堪摘？" (Who would dare to pick them now?) emphasizes the flowers' diminished value and the poet's own sense of worthlessness.

The sixth couplet, continued: suggests the poet's confinement and her act of passively observing the outside world. The question "独自怎生得黑？" (How can I endure the darkening night alone?) expresses her deep loneliness and fear as darkness descends, amplifying her feelings of isolation and despair.

The seventh couplet introduces the image of梧桐 (wútóng) trees and drizzling rain, further intensifying the melancholic atmosphere: "梧桐更兼细雨，到黄昏、点点滴滴" (W桐 trees and the fine drizzle, As dusk falls, Drips and trickles). The wutong tree, traditionally associated with autumn and parting, adds another layer of sadness to the scene. The "fine drizzle" symbolizes the continuous nature of the poet's sorrow, a subtle but persistent reminder of her emotional state.

The final couplet delivers the poem's powerful concluding statement: "这次第，怎一个愁字了得？" (This time, How can one word of "sorrow" suffice?). The phrase "这次第" (This time) emphasizes the unique and overwhelming nature of the poet's current state of sorrow. The rhetorical question "怎一个愁字了得？" (How can one word of "sorrow" suffice?) highlights the inadequacy of language to fully express the depth and complexity of her emotions. The repetition of the word "愁" (sorrow) throughout the poem culminates in this final line, leaving a lasting impression of the poet's profound grief and despair.

Themes:

• Loneliness and Isolation: The poem explores the profound loneliness and isolation experienced by the poet, highlighting the pain of loss and the challenges of facing hardship alone.

• The Passage of Time: The poem reflects on the fleeting nature of life and beauty, emphasizing the bittersweet memories of the past and the inevitability of change.

• Sorrow and Despair: The poem expresses the poet's overwhelming sorrow and despair, offering a glimpse into the depths of human grief and the struggle to find solace amidst hardship.

• The Powerlessness of Language: The poem acknowledges the limitations of language to fully capture the complexity of human emotions, particularly the profoundness of sorrow and despair.

"Slow Song" is a timeless classic of Chinese poetry, revered for its poignant expression of human emotions, evocative use of imagery, and exploration of universal themes. It continues to resonate with readers across time and cultures, offering a powerful testament to the enduring power of sorrow and the human spirit's ability to confront its depths.