This poem is from Tang Dynasty poet Han Yu's "Early Spring Presented to Vice Magistrate Zhang of the Water Department" (早春呈水部张十八员外). It captures the delicate beauty of early spring with vivid imagery and subtle emotions.
In the first two lines, the poet describes a light drizzle falling gently, nourishing the earth like fine silk, and the faint green hue of the grass that seems vibrant from a distance but fades upon closer inspection. This reflects the tender and fleeting charm of early spring, where nature begins to awaken softly and quietly.
The last two lines express the poet's admiration for this particular moment of the season, deeming it the finest time of the year. Han Yu notes that the fresh, vibrant scenery of early spring far surpasses the more mature beauty of late spring, symbolized by the mist-covered willows often seen in the imperial city.
Through this poem, Han Yu emphasizes the quiet elegance and unique allure of nature’s renewal, offering readers a glimpse into the timeless appreciation for spring’s subtle beginnings.