花非花 - 白居易
Flower, Yet Not a Flower - Bai Juyi
An Evocative Reflection on Illusion and Transience
花非花
Flower, yet not a flower
雾非雾
Mist, yet not mist
夜半来
Appearing at midnight
天明去
Gone by dawn
来如春梦几多时
Arriving like a spring dream—how long does it last?
去似朝云无觅处
Departing like morning clouds—nowhere to be found
Bai Juyi’s short poem “Flower, Yet Not a Flower” offers a succinct meditation on the elusive nature of beauty and existence. Through simple yet paradoxical imagery—something that appears like a flower or a mist but is neither—he captures how quickly moments of loveliness (or enlightenment) can grace our lives and then vanish without warning. The poem’s brevity heightens its effect: the lines are minimal, yet charged with a sense of impermanence.
By comparing this fleeting vision to both a spring dream and the morning clouds, Bai Juyi underscores the impossibility of grasping that which is transitory. Dreams often dissolve upon waking, while drifting clouds slip away with the sun’s rise—neither can be held or pinned down. In the same manner, life’s most delicate or profound experiences elude possession.
Ultimately, this poem gently prompts us to recognize that many of our cherished encounters—whether with beauty, insight, or joy—may be as intangible as a flower that is not a flower. By accepting the fleeting nature of all things, we can learn to appreciate each moment of grace as it appears, without clinging to or lamenting its departure. In doing so, Bai Juyi presents a timeless reminder of how transience underpins the preciousness of every passing instant.
Key points
1. True beauty and insight often reveal themselves in the briefest moments.
2. Attempting to cling to fleeting wonders can cause us to miss their essence.
3. Accepting impermanence can help us cherish each passing instant more deeply.
Comments
Cosmic CircuitSeeing how influencer fads rise and fall overnight, I can’t help but compare the fleeting enchantment here to ‘琵琶行(并序).’ While that piece dwells on the bittersweet lament of a performer, both poems highlight how nothing, not even captivating performances or enchanting images, endures forever.
WickedFlorIn ‘花非花,’ the ephemeral imagery recalls the delicate illusions in Li Bai’s ‘Quiet Night Thought,’ though Bai Juyi offers an even quieter introspection.
Wild FalconIts dreamlike quality shares a subtle kinship with Bai Juyi’s ‘暮江吟,’ both revealing a fragile hush hidden within everyday life.
Radiant Unity‘花非花’ stands in striking contrast to Bai Juyi’s more narrative-heavy works like ‘长恨歌.’ Here, he pares language down to a whisper, hinting at all that remains unsaid. The poem’s brevity feels purposeful, as though the poet is beckoning us to dwell in a moment that cannot truly be captured. In doing so, he mirrors the very quality he describes: fleetingness. While ‘长恨歌’ offers a sweeping tale of love and loss on an epic scale, ‘花非花’ focuses on the delicate, almost intangible line between dream and reality. Taken together, these two poems reveal the range of Bai Juyi’s craftsmanship—from grand historical tragedies to intimate reflections on what slips away the moment we try to hold it.
Infinite GlowCompared to Du Fu’s meditations on societal woes, ‘花非花’ offers a more personal, introspective glimpse into life’s shimmering impermanence.
Furious MustangWhenever I read ‘花非花,’ I think of how ephemeral our digital identities can be—disappearing stories, trending videos, and viral moments that vanish almost as soon as they appear. It calls to mind Bai Juyi’s ‘长恨歌,’ where the grandeur of love and power eventually dissolves into memory. In both poems, there's an undercurrent of longing for something that cannot be held or preserved, a reminder that our most cherished moments or greatest achievements can fade into intangible recollections. This resonance with our current culture of instant gratification, where fame and beauty sometimes flash in and out of existence overnight, underscores how timeless Bai Juyi’s themes truly are. Even centuries later, we grapple with the same pursuit of lasting significance amid the unstoppable flow of time.
Light ArrowIn our era of digital illusions, I’m reminded of how quickly social media trends appear and vanish, much like the fleeting presence described in these lines. The poem’s sense of transience perfectly encapsulates how beauty often exists only for a moment, leaving a lingering imprint in our minds before it fades away.
Dark PhoenixWith so many pop-up art exhibits focusing on immersive, short-lived experiences, I’m reminded of how this poem celebrates the allure of temporary beauty.
