— Yang Juyuan
The early spring presents to poets a fresh scene:
The willow twigs half yellow and half tender green.
When the Royal Garden’s covered with blooming flowers,
Then it would be the visitors’ busiest hours.
Note
Yang Juyuan (755–830) was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang Dynasty, known for his refined style and elegant imagery. Though less famous than Li Bai or Du Fu, he was highly respected in his time for his skillful regulated verse (lüshi) and his ability to capture subtle seasonal moods.
One of his best-known poems is “Early Spring in the East of the City” (Cheng Dong Zao Chun). In this short piece, Yang celebrates the quiet beauty of early spring – when willow branches are just beginning to turn green and buds are barely visible. He notes that most people haven’t yet noticed these delicate signs of renewal, but poets, with their keen eyes, already sense the coming vitality. The poem reflects a classic Tang aesthetic: understated observation, harmony with nature, and appreciation for fleeting moments of transition.
Unlike dramatic or emotional works, Yang’s poetry emphasizes restraint, clarity, and gentle joy – making “Early Spring in the East of the City” a perfect example of how Tang poets found profound beauty in simplicity.
The poem’s final line – “Then it would be the visitors’ busiest hours.” – refers not only to the sight of blossoms carpeting the ground and crowds flocking to admire them, but also carries a deeper metaphor: when someone achieves fame and success, everyone rushes to praise and follow them.
Thus, the poem’s underlying message is this: to seek worthy talent for the service of the state, one must recognize and nurture ability before it becomes obvious – just as in early spring, when willow buds are barely tinged with yellow and colors have not yet deepened. If leaders can discern promise in its earliest, humblest stage and boldly support it, such individuals will swiftly mature into capable pillars of society. But if one waits until their achievements are celebrated far and wide – when they bloom like radiant flowers drawing admiring crowds – it is already too late to “discover” or meaningfully assist them. True vision lies in seeing potential before the world does.
城东早春
— 杨巨源
诗家清景在新春，
绿柳才黄半未匀。
若待上林花似锦，
出门俱是看花人。
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