In literature, the term "trough" is employed both as a concrete object and as a metaphor that conveys the ebb and flow of human experience. It is often used to denote a receptacle for water or food—the site where animals drink or are fed in pastoral and domestic scenes [1][2][3]—and appears in descriptions of everyday agricultural tasks, such as processing grain and kneading dough [4][5][6]. At the same time, the word transcends its literal meaning and takes on a symbolic role; for instance, it is invoked to portray the low or most turbulent part of a wave, evoking feelings of despair or inexorable natural forces [7][8][9]. Through these varied usages, "trough" becomes a versatile image that connects the mundane with the mythic, anchoring both the physical realities and emotional depths of life.