In Reply to Fu Junyu: On Choosing a Neighbor
- Poetry of Yang Wanli
Vermilion Cliff's willows yearn for spring breeze,
Plum blooms on Yu Ridge still bear snow's freeze.
You ride a lean horse southward—I recall,
But who knows a true dragon behind thrall?
My homeland is a landscape beyond compare,
When shall we share these hills with kindred care?
Choose white egrets or Green Plains without despair,
Thatched huts we'll build—but which site shall we dare?
Written by Yang Wanli for his friend Fu Junyu, this poem was likely composed during Yang's period of retreat in Jishui. At the time, he faced repeated setbacks in his official career and struggled with poor health, fostering a longing for a reclusive life amidst mountains and valleys. His deep friendship with Fu, rooted in shared ideals, is reflected in this work—both as a gesture of concern for his friend's return and an imaginative vision of their future together enjoying nature. Through poetry, Yang blends friendship, landscape, and life aspirations, revealing his unique spirit.
朱崖柳色欲春风，庾岭梅花尚雪容。
念子南归骑瘦马，只今谁解好真龙。
吾乡端是山水窟，何日来同丘壑胸。
白鹭青原不妨拣，诛茅结屋看何从。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.
- Song of Qiupu XV
- Song of Qiupu XIV
- Song of Qiupu XIII
- Song of Qiupu XII
- Sobering from Drunkenness in Spring Day
- Lodging with the Master of the Clear Stream
- An Impromptu Verse After Being Drunk on Tongguan Mountain
- Song of a Southern Maiden: Winter
- Staying Overnight with a Friend
- The Sick Horse