[Poem] BUTTERFLY LOVES THE FLOWER (STANDING BY THE TALL TOWER IN A GENTLE BREEZE) - A Brief Reflection on Yearning and Devotion

Butterfly Loves the Flower (Standing by the Tall Tower in a Gentle Breeze)

蝶恋花(伫倚危楼风细细) - 柳永

Butterfly Loves the Flower (Standing by the Tall Tower in a Gentle Breeze) - Liu Yong

Where Twilight Breezes Echo Unspoken Longing

【Original Chinese】
伫倚危楼风细细,
望极春愁,黯黯生天际。
草色山光残照里,
无言,谁会凭阑意?

拟把疏狂图一醉,
对酒当歌,强乐还无味。
衣带渐宽终不悔,
为伊消得人憔悴。

【English Translation】
Standing by the tall tower, the breeze softly blows;
Far I gaze, spring sorrow dimming the horizon.
Grass and distant hills fade in the waning light;
In silence, who can fathom my thoughts by the railing?

I meant to seek abandon and lose myself in wine;
Yet singing with cup in hand feels strangely hollow.
Though my belt grows looser, I do not regret;
All for you, I willingly grow worn and weary.

“Butterfly Loves the Flower (Standing by the Tall Tower in a Gentle Breeze)” is a celebrated ci poem by Liu Yong from the Northern Song Dynasty. In ci poetry, each piece is composed to fit a specific tune pattern, in this case “Die Lian Hua” (蝶恋花). Liu Yong’s distinctive style often weaves romantic longing, melancholy landscapes, and an intimate emotional depth.

Here, the poem begins with the speaker standing alone on a lofty tower, attuned to the subtleties of a gentle spring breeze. The imagery of fading grass and distant hills under waning light evokes both the passing of time and the speaker’s deep inner turmoil. By positioning himself in silent contemplation, gazing out from a high vantage point, the poet emphasizes how physical and emotional distance overlap—leaving him caught in a state of wistful longing.

In classical Chinese verse, spring is frequently a time of renewed life. Yet here, the season of rejuvenation underscores the speaker’s sorrow. Instead of delight, he experiences “spring worry,” reflecting a pervasive ache that clouds the horizon. The poem shifts to a consideration of temporary distraction in wine and revelry, acknowledging a long-standing tradition where poets and scholars seek solace in song and drink. But even that fails to soothe the poet’s lingering sadness.

One of the most famous lines is “Though my belt grows looser, I do not regret,” conjuring the image of someone so consumed by yearning that he physically wastes away. Yet, rather than bemoaning this state, he wholeheartedly accepts it—“All for you, I willingly grow worn and weary.” This line speaks to the intensity of the poet’s devotion, an unshakeable love that endures despite the toll it takes.

The poem’s structure, with its balanced pairs of lines and evocative language, showcases the essence of Song-era ci: the fusion of elegant imagery, personal emotion, and musical cadence. Long after its composition, the piece continues to resonate for anyone who has experienced the bittersweet taste of longing—where even the splendors of spring or the consolation of wine cannot fully alleviate the desire for the beloved’s presence.

Key points

• Embodies the ci tradition of pairing melodic beauty with heartfelt longing.
• Uses spring’s gentle imagery to heighten a sense of melancholy.
• Contrasts fleeting distractions (wine, song) with enduring devotion.
• Highlights the poet’s acceptance of suffering for the sake of deep, unspoken love.

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