Green Gate Willows - Bai Juyi
/青门柳 - 白居易/
A Poignant Reflection on Parting Beneath the Willows
青门柳，一行行
Green Gate willows, lined in gentle rows
和烟和露翠丝长
Wreathed in mist and dew, their emerald strands stretch on
春风不解离情味
Spring breezes cannot fathom the taste of longing
吹送征人万里伤
They blow across distant travelers, evoking ten-thousand pangs
In “Green Gate Willows” (青门柳), Bai Juyi captures how something as ordinary as a line of willow trees can become charged with emotion—especially for those departing on a journey. The poem’s setting at the “Green Gate” (an ancient city gate area) implies a threshold between home and the wider world. Willows in Chinese poetry frequently symbolize parting and remembrance; their long, drooping branches evoke the lingering threads of emotion that bind travelers to what they leave behind.
Bai Juyi’s gentle language draws the reader into the quiet interplay of nature and feeling: dew-drenched willows shimmer in early light, while the spring breeze ruffles their leaves. This idyllic scene stands in poignant contrast to the deep ache of separation. The line “spring breezes cannot fathom the taste of longing” highlights how, despite the season’s promise of renewal, those who must depart remain burdened by the weight of farewell.
In this way, the poem offers insight into the dual nature of springtime—symbolizing hope for many, yet a source of quiet sorrow for those forced to leave home. Bai Juyi’s hallmark empathy and accessible style make this short poem resonate across eras: no matter the century, parting is a universal experience, and the simplest natural images can intensify our most profound feelings of nostalgia and regret.
Key points
1. Willows commonly symbolize parting in classical Chinese poetry, underscoring the bittersweet nature of goodbyes.
2. Bai Juyi’s concise, direct language allows everyday images—like morning dew and soft breezes—to amplify emotional depth.
3. Spring, typically a time of renewal, can feel paradoxically painful for those leaving familiar places.
4. The poem reminds us that seemingly ordinary landscapes can become powerful mirrors of human longing and memory.