On the River
- Poetry of Wang Anshi

This poem was composed during Wang Anshi's later years when he retreated to Zhongshan in the Northern Song period. Having withdrawn from political life, he devoted himself to poetry, calligraphy, and Buddhist philosophy, seeking inner tranquility and simplicity. This heptasyllabic quatrain, one of his many exquisitely crafted short works, captures the poet's observations and reflections while boating on the river and gazing at the landscape's clouds and mist. With concise language and a serene tone, the poem blends painterly scenes with philosophical contemplation, presenting both natural imagery and profound meaning that conveys the poet's insights on life, politics, and the future.