River Thoughts for Wang Anshi
- Poetry of Zeng Gong
River wears quicksilver clarity,
Moon-wind composes its own austerity.
My friend's shadow stretches a thousand miles,
This winecup grows heavy with exile's trials.
Born lazy and clumsy—who'd pretend
My circle wasn't doomed to end?
Vermilion strings gather sonatas of dust,
Where's the listener for my antiphonal rust?
Composed during Zeng Gong's provincial service in mid-Northern Song, this poem addresses his lifelong friend Wang Anshi (courtesy name Jiefu)—fellow reformist and intellectual ally. Though their political paths occasionally diverged, their mutual respect remained unwavering. Written when Wang served in the capital during turbulent reforms, the work transforms riverscape into a meditation on friendship's constancy amidst change. Its emotional authenticity and philosophical depth exemplify Zeng's ability to weave personal sentiment with universal resonance.
江上信清华，月风亦萧洒。
故人在千里，樽酒难独把。
由来懒拙甚，岂免交游寡。
朱弦任尘埃，谁是知音者。
- 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.
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- Willow Catkins Over the Pond
- Written for My Grandnephew at the Blue Pass
- South of Town I
- South of Town II
- Multi-Vista Tower at Sweet Dew Temple
- River Thoughts for Wang Anshi
- Bamboos by South Veranda
- The Condensed Incense Studio
- Ten Thousand Thoughts a Day