昔我往矣杨柳依依全诗

前几日，一场初雪悄然而至， evokes memories of a poem from my school days, "Cai Wei." The lines,

昔我往矣，杨柳依依。今我来思，雨雪霏霏。 行道迟迟，载渴载饥。我心伤悲，莫知我哀！

have always resonated deeply. Considered by many to be among the most beautiful verses in the "Three Hundred Poems," they paint a vivid picture: A young soldier departs for war as willows sway gently in the breeze. Now, he returns, his hair turned white by time, met by a somber scene of falling snow. The journey is arduous, filled with hunger and thirst, reflecting the deeper pain and loneliness he carries within.

One can't help but wonder if there's a layer of lost love woven into these words. Perhaps, amidst those swaying willows, a tender farewell with his beloved took place. Now, he returns, alone, his heart heavy with the weight of unfulfilled longing. His steps are slow, not just from physical exhaustion, but the weight of his sorrow, a grief understood by none.