Replying to Letian’s Spring Song
Freshly made up, she descends from the red-painted tower;
Spring is shut within the deep courtyard, filled with sorrow.
She walks into the courtyard and counts the flowers;
A dragonfly alights on her jade hairpin.
Notes
He means writing in response to another poem; Letian was Bai Juyi’s courtesy name. The red tower is a painted building. A jade hairpin is called a saotou because a hairpin could be used to scratch the head.
Meaning
A figure descends into a spring courtyard, counts flowers and has a dragonfly alight on her jade hairpin.
Appreciation
The title identifies the poem as a response to Bai Juyi’s Spring Song; dressing and descending introduce the figure.
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A bright spring courtyard coexists with sorrow.
Counting flowers and a dragonfly landing on a hairpin animate the quiet scene.
The poem does not explain the entire cause of the sorrow, leaving space for interpretation.
About the poet
Liu Yuxi (772–842), courtesy name Mengde, was a Tang poet and official whose career included long periods in regional posts.
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His writings include Black Robe Lane, Bamboo Branch Songs and prose essays.