Yuan Dynasty
四块玉·别情
### 标题
凭阑袖拂杨花雪。
Translation
Since the farewell, my heart has not been able to let go. When will this small, persistent longing ever end? Leaning on the railing, I brush away the snow-like willow catkins with my sleeve. The stream bends away; the mountains rise and hide the road — he is gone.
Analysis
The strength of this piece lies in its directness. The opening speaks plainly of longing after farewell, yet the emotion is deepened by the question “when will it end?” The poem then turns from abstract longing to a precise gesture: leaning by the railing and brushing away willow catkins. The “snow-like catkins” are both scenery and obstruction. The speaker brushes them aside because she still wants to see the departing figure. The ending moves in three steps: the stream bends away, the mountains block the view, and only then comes the final admission — “he is gone.” The colloquial cadence makes the grief immediate and human.
About the Author
Guan Hanqing was one of the central figures of Yuan drama and sanqu. His writing is known for its lively vernacular energy, theatrical immediacy, and sharp emotional gestures. Even in a brief lyric such as “Si Kuai Yu: Parting Feelings,” he creates a vivid scene through bodily movement, speech rhythm, and a final turn of recognition.