All flowers in late spring have fallen far and wide,
But peach blossoms are full-blown on this mountainside.
I oft regret spring's gone without leaving its trace;
I do not know it's come up to adorn this place.
Original Poem:
「大林寺桃花」
白居易
人间四月芳菲尽，山寺桃花始盛开。
长恨春归无觅处，不知转入此中来。
Interpretation:
This poem was written in the twelfth year of the Yuanhe era (817 AD), when Bai Juyi was in Jiangzhou and visited the Daling Temple in early summer. At this time, the spring of the lower mountain had already come to an end, with the fragrance of flowers gradually fading. However, in this ancient temple on the mountain, the poet unexpectedly found a blooming peach blossom. Through this depiction of the natural scene, the poet expresses his nostalgia and joy for spring, while also showing his changing state of mind.
First Couplet: "人间四月芳菲尽，山寺桃花始盛开。"
In the world below, the beauty of April has withered away, but in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom.
These two lines contrast the spring on the ground with that in the ancient temple on the mountain. While the spring on the ground has passed, symbolizing the passage of time and loss, the peach blossoms' bloom in the mountain temple represents the continuation and vitality of spring. This sudden scene evokes a sense of surprise and the continuation of life.
Second Couplet: "长恨春归无觅处，不知转入此中来"
I often lament the departure of spring, yet I did not expect that spring had quietly hidden in this cluster of peach blossoms.
Through these lines, the poet expresses his helplessness and disappointment at the departure of spring. He once thought that spring had quietly left, never to be found again. However, when he discovered the blooming peach blossoms in the mountain temple, he realized that spring had not truly departed—it had simply hidden away in the deep mountains. This unexpected reunion with spring brings the poet a sense of surprise and joy.
Writing Features:
Bai Juyi uses simple language and vivid contrasts in this poem to express his love for spring and his contemplation of the passage of time. The first two lines contrast the spring on the mountain with that on the plain, while the latter two lines convey the poet’s realization of spring’s renewal and immortality. Through minimal words, the poet paints a beautiful spring scene and gives it emotional depth, reflecting his own emotional changes.
Overall Appreciation:
The poem uses April as its background and expresses the poet’s deep attachment to spring through the depiction of the spring scene at the ancient mountain temple. The poet’s discovery of the peach blossoms conveys his emotional shift from loss to joy, and the contrast between “longing” and “not knowing” subtly reveals his rediscovery of spring. The poem’s concise language and delicate emotions reflect the resonance between nature and the human heart, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. Through this poem, Bai Juyi not only expresses his love for the natural beauty but also evokes a sense of warmth and unexpected delight in life.
Insights:
This poem reminds us that sometimes the disappointments and regrets in life are only temporary. Spring does not truly vanish; it may simply be hiding in a corner. We should learn to discover the beauty around us, as even ordinary things may hide unexpected surprises. This transformation from disappointment to joy makes us realize that on the journey of life, we should remain sensitive and hopeful for beautiful things, and learn to perceive the delicate aspects that are easy to overlook.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Bai Juyi (白居易), 772-846 AD, was originally from Taiyuan, then moved to Weinan in Shaanxi. Bai Juyi was the most prolific poet of the Tang Dynasty, with poems in the categories of satirical oracles, idleness, sentimentality, and miscellaneous rhythms, and the most influential poet after Li Bai Du Fu.
