Farewell in Autumn: Reflections on Loss and Longing

In the crisp autumn wind, as the leaves fall endlessly from the hills of Junshan and the waters of Dongting Lake merge with the sky in a boundless expanse, the mood is somber. The singer at the feast pours a full cup of wine and composes herself to sing a farewell song. Yet, unlike the ancient traveler departing from Wei City who heard the melancholic tune of “Yangguan,” I do not wish to hear this sorrowful melody.

As I stand on the balcony, slightly tipsy from the wine, my gaze stretches out to the distant horizon where the sky is clear and the clouds drift lazily. Among the exiles bound for the south, how many will survive this treacherous journey? I look back, and the setting sun stains the sky with a reddish hue; it must be where my former capital, Chang’an, lies.

This poem poignantly captures the mood of disillusionment and exile, representing a classic example of the themes associated with the Yueyang Tower. The entire piece is steeped in a deep, solemn sadness that grips the heart. The opening lines vividly describe the autumn scene at Dongting Lake, where falling leaves and the vast, misty waters mirror the poet’s melancholic state. The imagery draws from Qu Yuan’s “Nine Songs: Lady of the Xiang,” which describes the autumn wind and falling leaves at Dongting Lake.

The poet then shifts focus to the scene inside the tower where, due to the poet’s status as an exiled official and impending departure southward, the atmosphere at the banquet is subdued. The line “A full cup of wine, yet a solemn face” indicates the emotional weight behind the gesture of pouring a full cup of wine, symbolizing a deep, though restrained, sense of respect and sorrow. The absence of a smile on the singer’s face further emphasizes the gravity of the moment.

The reference to the ancient song “Yangguan” in the following lines connects to the traditional farewell song sung at partings. Originally composed by Wang Wei in his poem “Farewell to Yuan Er at the Western Frontier,” this song expresses the pain of departure and was known as the “Weicheng Melody” or “Yangguan Melody” in the Tang dynasty. The similarity between the poet’s current farewell and the traditional departure scenes is evident, reflecting the poet’s own sense of displacement and frustration.

The transition to the poet’s perspective, gazing out from the balcony while intoxicated, introduces a moment of visual and emotional clarity amidst the fog of melancholy. The clear sky and drifting clouds offer a contrast to the poet’s internal turmoil, creating a poignant juxtaposition. The phrase “Drunken sleeves” is a masterful touch, using the imagery of a person’s attire rather than their face to evoke the sense of intoxication and emotional depth, making the scene both intimate and vivid.

The final lines of the poem express a deep sense of historical and personal despair, asking how many exiles survive their journey and reflecting on the poet’s own fate. The rhetorical question, though simple, conveys a profound sense of historical weight and personal anguish. It resonates with the fate of countless exiles throughout history, underscoring the poem’s timeless relevance.

In the concluding lines, the poem shifts to reveal the poet’s inner conflict, employing a technique known as “transformation of bones” to present a fresh perspective. This method, originating from Song dynasty poet Fei Gun’s interpretation of Bai Letian’s “Inscription on Yueyang Tower,” allows the poet to reveal their nostalgia for their hometown, frustration with their fall from grace, and their expectations of the emperor, all with intricate layers of meaning.

The poem’s structure is seamless, with each stanza flowing naturally into the next, capturing the poet’s complex emotions with a simplicity that enhances its emotional impact. This high-quality, emotionally charged work effectively conveys the poet’s deep feelings of loss, longing, and disillusionment, making it a moving and memorable piece.

This translation maintains the emotional and thematic essence of the original poem while adapting it for an American audience, preserving both cultural context and poetic integrity.