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Jade Terrace Style
Author: Quan Deyu
Poem Title: Jade Terrace Style (Yù Tái Tǐ)
Content of the Poem:
Last night the skirt strings came undone,
This morning, the spider flies.
The makeup cannot be discarded,
Could it be that my husband is returning?
Explanation of the Poem's Meaning:
This poem was written by Quan Deyu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty. It depicts a woman's anticipation and joy at her husband's return, showcasing her complex emotions.
"Last night the skirt strings came undone": This line opens with a detail from daily life, where the woman's skirt strings accidentally loosened last night, which was considered an auspicious sign of her husband's imminent return.
"This morning, the spider flies": The poet then describes another good omen, as this morning the woman sees a spider flying, which is also viewed as a sign that good news is approaching.
"The makeup cannot be discarded": "Makeup" refers to the woman's adornment; here, she hurriedly prepares herself, unwilling to give up any possible hope, reflecting her strong expectation for her husband's return.
"Could it be that my husband is returning?": In the final line, "husband" is an indirect reference to her spouse. The poet uses a questioning tone to express the woman's speculation and hope, wondering if her husband might truly be coming back.
The entire poem uses simple language and sincere emotions to portray a wife's deep longing for her traveling husband and her desire for their reunion. The language in the poem is concise yet filled with emotion, making it one of the notable works in Quan Deyu's poetry.
Story Title: "Little Quan's Anticipation"
I grew up in this small town; it is quiet, ancient, and steeped in rich history. I enjoy reading the poems of ancient poets.
The people in the small town are very busy, and few are willing to listen to me recite poetry. Only my father is the one who is willing to listen to my poetry recitations. He enjoys telling me stories about ancient poets, saying that these stories are much more vivid than what is shown on television.
My father's study is large, filled with many books. One day, I discovered an old poetry collection on the bookshelf, which included Quan Deyu's "Jade Terrace Style."
"Jade Terrace Style?" The name sounded strange. I curiously opened it and was captivated by the verses inside.
"Last night the skirt was untied, this morning the spider flies."
"The hairpin travels across the world, binding into intertwined branches."
Seeing that I was engrossed, my father came over and asked, "Little Quan, whose story does this poem tell?" I shook my head, indicating that I didn't know.
My father sat across from me and patiently explained the story behind the poem. "This is a poem written by a wife for her husband. Her husband works as an official far away and cannot return home for a long time. The wife misses him dearly, so she wrote this poem."
"She first recalls their sweet moments during their early marriage, then describes her loneliness and solitude after her husband leaves, and finally expresses her longing for him and her anticipation of his return."
As I listened to my father's story, I couldn't help but be moved by the emotions in the poem. I seemed to see a deeply affectionate wife gazing at her husband's belongings, reminiscing about their past together, eagerly awaiting his return.
My father continued, "The wife's feelings are complex and contradictory. She hopes her husband can achieve great success but does not want him to leave her side. She fears that time will dilute their feelings, so she uses poetry to record her emotions."
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