A Poem of Changgan Love

Ah, love—it makes us happy, it makes us sad, it makes us crazy. That last part's especially true when we're stuck in a long-distance relationship with no end in sight, just the way that the speaker of "A Poem of Changgan" is. This is, in fact, a love poem. It's about how we can fall head over heels for someone, and the pain that comes when we're separated from them—especially when we can't Skype with them or call them or email them, and especially when we have no idea when they're coming back.

Questions About Love

1. In what ways does the speaker express her love for her husband in this poem?
2. What's the relationship between waiting and love in "A Poem of Changgan"?
3. Can we guess anything about the way the speaker's husband feels about her in this poem? If so, what can we deduce about his feelings for her? What parts of the poem give you your ideas?

Chew on This

In this poem, love is a source of pain.

Nope, sorry—in this poem, love is actually a source of joy.