Willow Bank lies east of West Lake. In spring, its drooping willows ripple like waves, and the songs of orioles may be heard drifting through—together making it one of West Lake's famed sights. Being close to the western part of the city, it neighbors such splendid and prosperous places as the Verdant Tavern and Jadeheart Garden, and so it is here that noble families and men of letters gather, giving rise to many a fine verse. Wandering idly through this place, one sees the willows deepen into shadow, then the blossoms brighten into light—the scene shifting with the heart, and spring itself born from the rippling waves. Only then does one realize that such beauty is not for the cultured alone to admire—one must first become a person of leisure.
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