咏柳 (贺知章) – An Ode to a Willow Tree (He Zhizhang)

咏柳 (贺知章)

碧玉妆成一树高，

万条垂下绿丝绦。

不知细叶谁裁出，

二月春风似剪刀。

---

An Ode to a Willow Tree (He Zhizhang)

The willow is dressed head to toe in jade,

Thousands of verdant branches drape like silk ribbons.

I know not who tailored your leaves to be so thin,

The springtime breeze of February resembles a scissor.

---

Interpretation

He Zhizhang explores the anthropogenic characteristics of nature in this poem. He likens the willow tree to a beautiful woman, describing the clothing as the color of 碧玉 (green jade) and wearing material made of 丝 (silk). Already, the poet portrays this woman as one who either has the wealth and desire to clothe herself in fine goods. After that, He interacts nature with the woman, revealing that her clothing was tailored by 二月春风 (February’s vernal wind). The interconnectedness of nature and humans reveal that he constantly thinks of this woman, as even a mere tree reminds him of her.

---

Sources:

Image: https://pixels.com/featured/under-the-willow-tree-sarah-batalka.html

Translation: http://chinesepoemsinenglish.blogspot.com/2008/11/he-zhizhang-ode-to-willow.html

Interpretation: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%92%8F%E6%9F%B3/172