这首咏物诗是诗人于唐武宗会昌六年闲居永乐期间所作。当时以牛信孺为首和李德裕的一群的朋党互相倾轧，李商隐因娶王茂元之女一事，构怨于牛党的令狐鹗，因而境况很不如意。于是，便借园中的落花抒发自己忧伤身世之感。通过对花叶飘落表达了诗人素怀壮志，不见用于世的凄婉和感慨。全诗洋溢着伤春惜花之感。

《落花》 李商隐

高阁客竟去，小园花乱飞。
参差连曲陌，迢递送斜晖。
肠断未忍扫，眼穿仍欲归。
芳心向春尽，所得是沾衣。

Fallen Flowers
Li Shang-yin

From the tall pavilion the guests have all departed;
In the little garden, flowers fly, pell-mell.
They fall at random on the winding path,
And travel far, sending off the setting sun.
Heartbroken, I cannot bear to sweep them away;
Gazing hard, I watch them till few are left.
Their fragrant heart, following spring, dies;
What they have earned are tears that wet one’s clothes.