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Longing
Author: Wang Wei
Poem Title: Longing
Red beans grow in the southern country,
When spring arrives, they sprout a few branches.
I hope you gather more of them,
For this is the best symbol of longing.
This poem was written by Wang Wei, a poet from the Tang Dynasty, expressing deep feelings of missing loved ones or friends far away.
"Red beans grow in the southern country": Red beans, also known as "Xiāng Sī Zǐ" (the seeds of longing), are often used to symbolize love and longing. This line suggests the connection between red beans and feelings of yearning.
"When spring arrives, they sprout a few branches": As spring comes, the red bean trees produce new branches; here, "a few branches" refers not only to the new growth but also hints at the poet's blossoming feelings of longing.
"I hope you gather more of them": The poet wishes for the person he misses to gather more red beans; "you" refers to the object of his affection.
"For this is the best symbol of longing": This line directly expresses that red beans represent longing most profoundly, serving as a heartfelt token for the poet's feelings towards the person he misses.
The entire poem uses the imagery of red beans to convey the poet's infinite yearning for distant friends and family through concise language and profound emotion.
Story Scene:
In a small town during the Tang Dynasty, the warm spring sunlight gently bathes this tranquil land, awakening all living things and bringing everything to life.
Three miles east of the town lies a lush bamboo forest,
Deep within the forest lives an old man and a young boy. The elder is a wise man, well-versed in many subjects,
a renowned poet known throughout the land—Wang Wei.
The young boy is his grandson, named Little Sunzi; he is lively and adorable with a strong sense of curiosity.
The two of them lived together, enjoying a carefree life like wandering clouds and wild cranes. This bamboo forest became their constant companion, sharing their days and nights. Wang Wei loved to compose poetry and paint in the bamboo grove, immersing himself in the lush green sea, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, seeking inner peace. His little grandson enjoyed snuggling beside Wang Wei, listening to him recount ancient stories and poems, absorbing the essence of culture.
The bamboo grove seemed to become a part of their family, accompanying them day and night. In the grove, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting specks of golden light on the ground. Hand in hand with his grandson, they wandered through the bamboo forest, feeling the warm breeze on their faces, as if they had merged with nature itself.
Suddenly, the little grandson stopped in his tracks and held my hand, looking up at me with curiosity. "Grandpa, can you tell me the story of the red bean tree?" he asked. I smiled and nodded.
We found an ancient red bean tree, its trunk thick and bark cracked, bearing witness to the passage of time. Sitting beneath the tree, I began to tell him the legend of the red bean tree. "The red bean tree is a slow-growing plant that only produces a few leaves each year. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, it bears beautiful yellow or white blossoms, followed by lovely red beans. The shape of the red beans resembles a heart, and their bright red color has earned them the name 'love beans.'"
The little grandson listened intently, his eyes sparkling as if he could see those beautiful red beans hanging from the branches. "Red beans symbolize longing and affection; people often give them to distant friends or relatives to express their feelings of missing them."
Little Sun asked, "Grandpa, do pen pals really exist so far away in the world?"
I smiled and gently patted Little Sun's head, saying, "Maybe, in this world, there are always things we cannot imagine."
Little Sun nodded, half-understanding, and continued to immerse himself in my story.
That day, I taught Little Sun to recite my new poem "Longing," which mentioned red beans.
"Red beans grow in the Southern Country; when spring comes, they sprout a few branches. I hope you gather more; this is the most longing."
Little Sun asked me, "Grandpa, what are red beans?"
I told him, "Red beans are a magical plant that can express deep longing."
After hearing the story of the red beans, Little Sun fell silent for a moment, as if pondering something. Suddenly, he looked up at me and said, "Grandpa, I want to plant a red bean."
I smiled and asked him, "Why do you want to plant red beans?"
Little Sun replied earnestly, "Because I have a good friend named Xiao Mei who lives very far away. I want to put my longing into the red bean so it can convey my feelings to my distant friend."
Hearing this warmed my heart; Little Sun had finally learned to express his emotions.
I patted his head and encouraged him, "As long as you have longing in your heart, no matter how far away it is, the red bean tree can carry your feelings to the distance."
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