Terms with a focus on the "mellow" aspect:
* Pensiveness: Suggests thoughtful, quiet reflection, without intense sadness.
* Contemplative: Similar to pensiveness, but with a focus on pondering the deeper meaning of things.
* wistful: Implies a gentle longing for something lost or unattainable, without being overly sorrowful.
* Nostalgic: evokes a bittersweet yearning for the past, often with a sense of fondness.
Terms with a focus on the "melancholy" aspect:
* Elegiac: Expresses sorrow or lamentation, but in a dignified and restrained manner.
* Sombre: Refers to a subdued, somber tone, often suggesting a sense of sadness or seriousness.
* Subdued: Implies a quiet, subdued sadness, without being overly dramatic.
Combining both aspects:
* Poignant: evokes a deep and moving sadness, but not necessarily intense sorrow.
* Lyrical: Expresses feelings and ideas in a flowing, poetic manner, often with a melancholic undertone.
Ultimately, the best term to use depends on the specific context and the nuances of the emotion you want to convey.
It's also important to note that you might not always need a specific literary term. Sometimes, simply using descriptive language to evoke the desired mood is sufficient. For example, you could describe a scene as having a "gentle sadness," "a quiet longing," or "a sense of wistful contemplation."