Lamenting the Peony Blossoms [Tang Poems]

— Bai Juyi

I’m saddened by the courtyard peonies brilliant red,

At dusk only two of them are left on their bed.

I am afraid they can’t survive the morning blast,

By lantern light I take a look at the long, long last.

Note

Bai Juyi (772–846 CE) was one of the most celebrated poets of the Tang Dynasty, admired for his clear, heartfelt language and deep sensitivity to everyday emotions – whether joy, sorrow, or the quiet passage of time. A master of lyrical simplicity, he often infused ordinary moments with profound tenderness.

His poem “Lamenting the Peony Blossoms” expresses a poignant moment of floral ephemerality. At dusk, the poet stands before the garden, grieved to see that only two red peony blooms remain on the steps – once vibrant, now fading. Knowing that tomorrow’s wind will likely scatter them entirely, he takes a torch at night and gently illuminates the withering flowers, as if to honor their final beauty.

This act – “holding a flame to watch decaying blossoms” – is both intimate and symbolic. It reflects not just affection for the peony (a flower symbolizing wealth and splendor in Chinese culture), but also a deeper meditation on impermanence, care, and the human desire to witness and cherish fleeting beauty before it vanishes.

惜牡丹花
— 白居易

惆怅阶前红牡丹，

晚来唯有两枝残。

明朝风起应吹尽，

夜惜衰红把火看。