诗人以独特的视角，将残荷、枯荷、败荷纳入诗歌意象中，赋予它们以新的内涵。爱妻亡故后，诗人深夜闻笛声，离愁瞬间盈满心田，增添了无限的悲凉之感，荷之意象便是诗人内心孤寂、凄凉的写照。此诗为李商隐在妻子亡故之后，留宿岳父家所作，昔人已去，物是人非，前景迷离有如孤鸿，诗人的凄苦之情溢于诗外。

《夜冷》 李商隐

树绕池宽月影多，村砧坞笛隔风萝。
西亭翠被余香薄，一夜将愁向败荷。

Night Chill
Li Shang-yin

Trees surround a wide pool, the moon casts many shadows;
Beyond the wind-blown vine, in the village and on the bank,
the pounding of wash and the sounds of the flute.
In the west pavilion, the kingfisher quilt leaves a fragrance that fades;
All through the night, my sorrow turns toward the wilted lotus.