Song Dynasty
Song of Wandering · Winter Thoughts
Su Shi
携手江村，梅雪飘裙。
情何限、处处消魂。
故人不见，旧曲重闻。
向望湖楼，孤山寺，涌金门。
寻常行处，题诗千首。
绣罗衫、与拂红尘。
别来相忆，知是何人。
有湖中月，江边柳，陇头云。
Translation
Hand in hand, we once walked through riverside villages; plum blossoms and snow drifted onto your skirt. How boundless our feelings were — everywhere we went, the heart was overcome. Now the old companion is no longer seen, yet the old song is heard again. I think of Wanghu Tower, of Gushan Temple, of Yongjin Gate. In those familiar places where we often walked, we wrote poems beyond counting. On your embroidered silk robe, I once brushed away the red dust. Since parting, do we still remember each other? Who can truly know? There is only the moon in the lake, the willows by the river, and the clouds over the distant ridge.
Analysis
Although the title says 'Winter Thoughts,' the poem is less about winter itself than about memory. Winter images — plum blossoms, snow, old songs, and familiar places — become triggers for recalling a lost companion. The opening image is intimate and cinematic: two people walking hand in hand through riverside villages while plum blossoms and snow fall on clothing. The scene is beautiful, but because it is remembered, it already carries loss. 'Now the old companion is no longer seen, yet the old song is heard again' is the emotional turn. The person is absent, but the song remains. The names Wanghu Tower, Gushan Temple, and Yongjin Gate place the poem in the landscape of Hangzhou and West Lake — coordinates of shared experience. The second stanza deepens the intimacy. 'On your embroidered silk robe, I once brushed away the red dust' is a small, physical gesture that carries more emotional weight than a grand declaration. 'Since parting, do we still remember each other? Who can truly know?' introduces uncertainty. The final images — moon, willows, clouds — are traditional symbols of longing and separation. Human ties have changed, but nature remains, silently preserving the atmosphere of the past.
About the Author
Su Shi, courtesy name Zizhan and literary name Dongpo Jushi, was a major writer, statesman, calligrapher, painter, and poet of the Northern Song dynasty. Born in Meishan, Meizhou, he is one of the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song.' Su Shi expanded the range of ci poetry, enabling it to express not only bold historical themes but also delicate emotions of parting and remembrance. His work always shows broad-mindedness, sharp perception, and a strong sense of earthly life.