Ball Tossing Revelry - Liu Yuxi
/抛球乐 - 刘禹锡/
A Springtime Revel and an Embroidered Ball
绿水桥边春日浓，
At the green-water bridge, the spring day glows bright.
青丝绾髻燕双同。
Dark hair is pinned as twin swallows swoop by.
玉手轻抛锦球落，
Delicate hands toss the embroidered ball, letting it fall.
笑声飞入杏花风。
Laughter drifts upon the breeze among apricot blossoms.
At the green-water bridge, the spring day glows bright.
青丝绾髻燕双同。
Dark hair is pinned as twin swallows swoop by.
玉手轻抛锦球落，
Delicate hands toss the embroidered ball, letting it fall.
笑声飞入杏花风。
Laughter drifts upon the breeze among apricot blossoms.
“Ball Tossing Revelry” (抛球乐) by Liu Yuxi offers a charming snapshot of youthful celebration in a springtime setting. Though the poem is brief, its imagery is richly evocative. In just four lines, the poet conjures a scene near a bridge over green waters, where the air is saturated with warmth and renewal. The reference to dark hair tied up in an elegant chignon suggests a poised and refined figure, enjoying the simple act of tossing a ball.
Swallows, emblematic of spring in Chinese literature, flutter near the young woman, underscoring the season’s transition to lively growth and social gatherings. The embroidered ball, sometimes used in courtly games or as tokens of affection, signifies both playfulness and potential romance. Its flight and gentle fall become focal points for revelry, drawing laughter that mingles with the fragrant breeze of blossoming apricot trees.
In classical Chinese poetry, small, everyday gestures often resonate deeply with themes of renewal, companionship, and the fleeting nature of delight. By spotlighting a singular moment—the ball’s graceful arc through the air—Liu Yuxi captures how ephemeral beauty can spark joy. The poem’s brevity, typical of the Tang style, invites us to savor the scene as a microcosm of spring itself: full of delicate color, sweet fragrance, and the promise of vitality.
Ultimately, “Ball Tossing Revelry” encourages readers to pause and appreciate the season’s subtle wonders, from the arrival of swallows to the swirl of blossoms on the breeze. Above all, it celebrates how even the simplest pastime can evoke delight, reflecting the profound bond between nature’s awakening and human festivity.
Key points
• Celebrates the playful atmosphere of springtime and youthful joy.
• Highlights vivid imagery of swallows, embroidered balls, and blossoming trees.
• Emphasizes how small moments—like tossing a ball—capture nature’s renewal.
• Demonstrates Tang poetry’s skill at blending everyday leisure with a sense of poetic wonder.
