草树知春不久归
Grasses and trees seem to know spring will soon leave;
百般红紫斗芳菲
Red and purple blossoms display their splendor.
杨花榆荚无才思
Willow fluff and elm seeds have no rich colors,
惟解漫天作雪飞
Yet know how to fly like snow across the sky.
What the poem means
Plants seem to know spring is ending and display their colors. Willow fluff and elm seeds join in by drifting like snow. Personification lets every plant take part in its own way.
Meet the poet
Han Yu was a Tang poet. Personified plants each join the lively scene in their own way.
Han Yu · More poems →