Nobody can quite agree on what one of Li Shangyin's most famously enigmatic poems really means. Some see it as a lament for a lover or partner, others, a meditation on art or life, or perhaps anecdotal philosophy snippets.

Perhaps it is because the poet's rich combination of allegory and emotions, his skillful weaving of sorrow and beauty. Li's references span beauty (jade from Lantian), philosophy (Zhuangzi dreams he is a butterfly), and grief (King Wang of Shu); giving the reader many different specific images to parse through.

In her translation of 唐詩三百首, translator Innes Herdan wonders if the Jin Se, or inlaid zither, was a name or sobriquet of one of Li's friends or acquaintances. More specifically, a woman who died young, probably before reaching 50, whom he may have loved. She goes on to suppose that the poem, as it is believed to be written to or about this woman, is composed almost entirely of obscure personal allusions.

It could be said that though the historical context and personal significance would definitely be appreciated, they may be lost to time or interpretation, therefore dooming the poem to a fate of heavily debated nonsense. Alternatively, I would like to raise a different point: The poem's relevance and emotional message is not dampened by the loss of the poet's intention. Rather, it is elevated by the poem's ambiguity, by its allowing for many different readings or interpretations --- by people who look into the soul of the poem, and see that a moment that ought to have lasted for ever has come and gone before they knew.