Ode to the Willow
- Poetry of Zeng Gong

《咏柳》
Ode to the Willow by Zeng Gong
English Translation

Twigs still pale with newborn hue,

Drunk on east wind, swagger through.

Daring fluff to dim the skies—

Know you not frost's chastening lies?

Composed in spring 1072 during Zeng Gong's tenure as prefect of Qizhou, this work reflects his measured optimism about Northern Song political reforms. Known for his temperate governance essays, Zeng articulates in Memorial When Transferred to Cangzhou: "Our enduring peace surpasses even the Three Dynasties' golden age." While ostensibly depicting spring willows, the poem satirizes political opportunists—those who, like pliant branches, twist with prevailing winds. Beneath its botanical imagery lies a trenchant critique of power's ephemeral nature.

中文原文( Chinese )

乱条犹未变初黄，倚得东风势便狂。

解把飞花蒙日月，不知天地有清霜。

- Last updated: 2025-10-05 15:55:06
· Pre： Joyful Rain​​
Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

List of Chinese poets

© CN-Poetry.com Chinese Poems in English