人间四月芳菲尽
In the fourth month, flowers below have faded;
山寺桃花始盛开
At the mountain temple, peach blossoms just bloom.
长恨春归无觅处
I long regretted that spring was nowhere to be found,
不知转入此中来
Not knowing it had come to this place.
What the poem means
Flowers below the mountain have faded, but peach blossoms at the mountain temple are just opening. The poet finds spring again where he did not expect it. Places can have different flowering times.
Meet the poet
Bai Juyi was a Tang poet whose clear language often explores everyday life and human feeling.
Bai Juyi · More poems →