[Poem] WILLOW - A Brief Look at Change and Longing

Li Shangyin’s poem “Willow” reflects on the fleeting nature of seasons and the emotional undertones they carry. In the first couplet, the willows are depicted as companions of the east wind, drifting gracefully across a banquet scene—an image suggestive of springtime revelry and youthful vibrance. Yet even in these carefree moments, the phrase “断肠天” (piercing the heart) signals an undercurrent of sorrow, emphasizing that joy and sadness often coexist.

The scene then shifts to autumn, marked by the slanting rays of the setting sun and the persistent song of cicadas. Traditionally, cicadas signify both the height and the end of summer; their sound here echoes the inevitability of change. By asking “How can they now abide these crisp autumn days?” Li Shangyin underscores the willows’—and thus the poet’s—struggle to reconcile the radiance of spring with the poignant transitions of fall.

This poem, though brief, captures the paradox of beauty and longing. The willows serve as living symbols of life’s constant flux: despite the inexorable turning of seasons, they endure—yet each shift brings with it a wistful reminder of what has passed. Li Shangyin invites readers to reflect on how we, too, contend with the ebb and flow of time, cherishing moments of splendor even as they slip into memory. By weaving nature and emotion so seamlessly together, he reminds us that paying careful attention to the seasons can deepen our understanding of impermanence, and help us greet each phase of life with acceptance and grace.