Chrysanthemums [Tang Poems]

— Yuan Zhen

Around the cottage like Tao’s autumn flowers grow;

Along the hedge I stroll until the sun slants low.

Not that I favor partially the chrysanthemum,

But it is the last flower after which none will bloom.

Note

Yuan Zhen (779–831 CE) was a prominent poet, literary reformer, and official of the mid-Tang Dynasty, best known for his intimate, emotionally direct poetry and his close friendship with Bai Juyi, with whom he co-led the “New Yuefu Movement” advocating socially conscious verse. While often remembered for his romantic poems – especially those mourning his deceased wife – he also wrote graceful, reflective nature poems that blend personal feeling with classical allusion.

His poem “Chrysanthemums” captures a quiet autumn moment filled with admiration and gentle melancholy. The poet describes clusters of chrysanthemums encircling his home, so reminiscent of the legendary recluse Tao Yuanming’s garden that it feels like stepping into a world of serene detachment. He wanders around the fence again and again, watching the sun slowly sink – entranced by the flowers’ enduring beauty.

The final couplet delivers a simple yet profound declaration: “It’s not that I favor chrysanthemums above all other blossoms – but after these bloom, there are no more flowers.” This isn’t mere preference; it’s an acknowledgment of the chrysanthemum as the last herald of beauty before winter’s void. In its resilience and finality, the flower becomes a symbol of loyalty, closure, and the poignant end of a cycle.

菊花
— 元稹

秋丛绕舍似陶家，

遍绕篱边日渐斜。

不是花中偏爱菊，

此花开尽更无花。