— Bai Juyi
A tree of million branches sways in breeze of spring,
More tender, more soft than golden silk string by string.
But in west corner of a garden in decay,
Who would come to admire its beauty all the day?
Note
Bai Juyi (772–846) was one of the most influential and accessible poets of Tang Dynasty in the Ancient China, famed for his clear, conversational style and deep social conscience. He believed poetry should be understandable to everyone – even an old washerwoman – and often used simple language to convey profound observations about life, nature, and injustice.
His poem “Song of the Willow” (Yang Liu Zhi Ci, also translates to Verses on Willow Branches) appears deceptively light but carries subtle emotional weight. It begins with vivid imagery: in spring breeze, a willow tree sends out countless supple branches, “more tender than gold, softer than silk.” Yet this beauty grows unnoticed in a neglected corner of Yongfeng’s western alley – an abandoned garden where no one comes all day. The final line poses a quiet, haunting question: “To whom does it belong?” or “Who would come to admire its beauty all the day?”
On the surface, the poem describes a lovely tree in obscurity; beneath, it reflects Bai Juyi’s empathy for unrecognized talent and wasted beauty – possibly even a veiled commentary on his own political sidelining during exile. The willow becomes a symbol of grace without audience, virtue without reward.
杨柳枝词
— 白居易
一树春风千万枝，
嫩于金色软于丝。
永丰西角荒园里，
尽日无人属阿谁？
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