Longing for the Return
The poem “My husband has gone away to serve in a distant land, the length of his service is uncertain, when will he return home? Chickens have already roosted, the sun is setting in the west, herds of cattle and sheep descend from the hills. My husband serves far away, how can I not think of him? My husband has gone to serve in a distant land, daily and monthly the days seem long, when will we meet again? Chickens climb onto their perches, the sun gradually sets in the west, cattle and sheep come down the hill. My husband serves far away, hoping he won’t go hungry! This is a very simple poem. The two chapters are almost identical, with very few changes. At the beginning of each chapter, the protagonist expresses her inner monologue in simple language. Slightly noticeable is the phrase “not knowing the time” (the second chapter’s “neither day nor month” has the same meaning, and many people interpret it as a long time, which is inaccurate). Waiting for loved ones to return, the most troubling thing is this indefinite return date, as if there is hope every day, but disappointment every day. If only the time away were long but the return date was certain, it wouldn’t be so annoying. It is in this state of mind that the protagonist sighs and asks with regret, “When will he return?”
The following section has a natural charm. The poem no longer directly writes about the wife’s longing and even resentment for her husband, but paints a faint picture of the rural evening scene: under the twilight glow, the chickens return to their roosts, and the cattle and sheep slowly descend from the hills outside the village. The brushstrokes here seem effortless, without even an adjective, unlike later literati who always strive to paint deeply and alertly, fearing that readers will not pay attention. However, this scene is very moving because it is emotional. Readers seem to see the woman gazing at the chickens, cows, and sheep, gazing at the winding road leading to the distance, and she is moved by it. After this comes the line “For the gentleman in service, what can I do but not miss,” and readers clearly feel the woman’s heavy concern. If the middle “chickens roost on the ridge, the day is evening, sheep and cattle come down” three lines are omitted, and the last two lines are directly connected to “When will he come,” the feeling will be completely different. There is a rhythm problem in the expression of lyricism — the rhythm is too fast and there is no ups and downs, and the lyric effect cannot be achieved. At the same time, this picture itself has its special sentiment.
People familiar with rural life often see such evening scenes. The days of farming are hard, but when dusk comes, everything returns to calm, peaceful, and peaceful. Cattle and sheep return to the pen, smoke rises gently, and the lights warm up and flicker. Farmers and their families chat leisurely. Twilight brings a gentleness to the earth that was not there during the day. Farmers cherish the things they love most in their lives and gather around them. This is the most ordinary and interesting moment in the ancient agrarian society. But in this poem, the wife’s husband is still far away, and the lack of her life is most strongly felt at this moment, so she eagerly awaits.
The two chapters of this poem are almost entirely repetitive, which is the most common method of ballads — advancing the emotional movement with overlapping chapters and sentences. However, the final sentence of the second chapter is also the final sentence of the entire poem, but it is completely different. It turns the wife’s expectation into concern and wishes for her husband: if he does not return, then so be it, but I hope he does not endure hunger and thirst abroad. This is also the most ordinary thing to say, but the emotions contained in it are so kind and sincere.
This is an ancient ballad that touches the most sensitive part of people’s hearts directly with its unadorned language. Its natural charm is something that is difficult to replicate in later generations.