“Ten thousand branches of tall trees begin to sprout,
They droop like fringes of a robe made of green jade.
But do you know by whom these young leaves are cut out?
The early spring wind is as sharp as scissor blade.”

—  He Zhizhang

"Willow Trees" (《咏柳》), in 150 Tang Poems, trans. Xu Yuan-zhong

Original

碧玉妝成一樹高, 萬條垂下綠絲縧。 不知細葉誰裁出, 二月春風似剪刀。

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Chinese writer 659–744

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