Regret for Peony Flowers
- Poetry of Bai Juyi

《惜牡丹花》

English Rendering

I'm saddened by the peonies before the steps, so red,

As evening came I found that only two remained.

Once morning's winds have blown, they surely won't survive,

At night I gaze by lamplight, to cherish the fading red.

Regret for Peony Flowers by Bai Juyi
Regret for Peony Flowers by Bai Juyi

Original Text (中文原文)

惆帐阶前红牡丹,晚来唯有两枝残。

明朝风起应吹尽,夜惜衰红把火看。

Regret for Peony Flowers

Analysis & Context

By Bai Juyi

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.

Reading Between the Lines

Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.

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