"Yong Yu Le·Golden Sunset" is a work written by Li Qingzhao in his later years. The first part of the poem describes the author's desolate mood when he was in a foreign land during the Lantern Festival, and the second part of the poem focuses on the poet's stay in Bian. The joyful mood of the Lantern Festival in Beijing reflects the sad and lonely mood of the poet.
"Yong Yu Le·The Sunset Melts Gold"
Song Dynasty·Li Qingzhao
The sunset melts gold, the dusk clouds merge together, where are the people. The willows are dyed with thick smoke, and the plum flute is played with resentment, and I know how much spring is coming. During the Lantern Festival, the weather is harmonious and there is no wind or rain. Come to greet him, bring him a car and a BMW, and thank him for his wine, friends, and poets.
It is a prosperous day in Zhongzhou, and there is a lot of free time for the boudoir, so remember to focus on the three or five. Paved with emerald crowns, twisted with golden snow willows, and clustered with ribbons to help Chu. Now I am haggard, my hair is covered with frost, and I am afraid of going out at night. It's better to go under the curtain and listen to people's laughter.
Translation
The setting sun is golden, like molten gold water, and the dusk clouds are wavy blue, as bright and crystal clear as jasper. The scenery is so beautiful, but where am I now? The new willow leaves are stained like green smoke, and there is a sound of resentment in the flute music of "Plum Blossoms Fall", and the breath of spring has gradually emerged. But in the mild weather during the Lantern Festival, who knows whether there will be wind or rain? Those drinking friends, poets, and friends came to greet them in their gorgeous carriages and horses, but I could only respond politely, because I was depressed and anxious.
I remember that when Bianjing was prosperous, I had a lot of leisure time in my boudoir, and I especially valued this festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Their hats were inlaid with jade beads, and their bodies were covered with gold-twisted snow willows. Everyone was dressed handsomely. Now he looks haggard, his hair is fluffy and he has no intention of combing it, and he is even more afraid of going out at night. It's better to listen to other people's laughter from under the curtain.
Appreciation
This poem uses the technique of contrast to write about the scenes of the Lantern Festival in Bianjing, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, and Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. It expresses its own feelings through the comparison of the two places. Thoughts about the motherland, and implicitly expressed dissatisfaction with the Southern Song Dynasty rulers' contentment.
The first part of the poem describes the author's desolate mood while living in a foreign land during the Lantern Festival. It contrasts the joy of objective facts with her subjective mood, highlighting the desolation of the author's subjective mood. The second part of the poem focuses on the author's joyful mood during the Lantern Festival in Bianjing before going south to contrast with the current desolate scene, and reflects the sad and lonely mood of the poet through the laughter and laughter of others.