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You find a flower half-buried in leaves, And in your eye…

“You find a flower half-buried in leaves, And in your eye its very fate resides. Loving beauty, you caress the bloom; Soon enough, you'll sweep petals from the floor. Terrible to love the lovely so, To count your own years, to say I'm old, To see a flower half-buried in leaves And come face to face…” quote by Hanshan
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“You find a flower half-buried in leaves, And in your eye its very fate resides. Loving beauty, you caress the bloom; Soon enough, you'll sweep petals from the floor. Terrible to love the lovely so, To count your own years, to say I'm old, To see a flower half-buried in leaves And come face to face with what you are.”

Hanshan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poem reflects on fleeting beauty, mortality, and self‑recognition through the image of a buried flower

In simple terms: A buried flower symbolizes hidden beauty and the inevitability of aging

Key Takeaway

Contemplate impermanence and cherish present beauty

Themes

philosophy mortality self‑reflection

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • garden contemplation
  • personal meditation
  • artistic inspiration

Key Concepts

impermanence nature symbolism existential awareness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does hidden beauty affect your view of aging?
  • What does the flower represent in your life?
A Different Perspective

Interpretations may vary across cultures and eras

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