[Poem] WILLOW BRANCH SONG (NO. 2) - A Brief Look at Quiet Resilience

In this second poem of his “Willow Branch” series, Liu Yuxi focuses on the understated power of the willow—one of the most iconic symbols in Chinese poetry. The opening lines locate us in front of the Flower-Eaves Tower, where delicate branches stretch forth in early spring. The poet highlights how, at the arrival of the season, the once-barren twigs begin to sprout fine strands of green, likening them to filaments emerging in the soft, warm mist.

Liu Yuxi emphasizes the willow’s gentle pliancy by contrasting its tender branches with the rigid pegs of a Qin zither, a well-known Chinese musical instrument. Where the zither’s pegs must hold firm to keep strings taut, these willow shoots bend and sway, perfectly attuned to the shifting breezes of spring. Through this image, the poet suggests a kind of quiet resilience—the willow’s strength lies in its flexible grace rather than any showy display of force.

Ultimately, it is the “spring breeze” that truly comprehends the willow’s nature. Nature herself appreciates and reveals the deeper virtues that human eyes may miss. While the willow does not trumpet its worth, its subtle beauty becomes an invitation to observe how small changes in our surroundings can hold profound truths. For Liu Yuxi—who experienced political ups and downs in his lifetime—the willow stands as a reminder that adaptability and understated elegance can offer a form of quiet power.

Much of Liu Yuxi’s poetry combines attention to natural detail with gentle philosophical reflection. “Willow Branch Song (No. 2)” exemplifies this approach: with economy of words, he directs the reader to contemplate how transformations in nature mirror deeper human insights. In the bending willow, we see not only a vivid spring scene but also a metaphor for enduring life’s changes with grace and resilience.