Bamboo and Rock
- Poetry of Zheng Xie

This is a poem inscribed on a painting. The opening couplet celebrates the inner spirit of the sturdy bamboo rooted in cracked rocks, fully embodying its unyielding vitality and resolute character. The closing couplet further illustrates how the harsh external elements temper and challenge the bamboo: through wind and rain, frost and snow, the green stalks still stand tall and unbroken. Employing allegory through nature, the poet implicitly conveys his noble integrity and unwavering resolve never to conform to the crowd. Written in plain yet refreshing language, the poem blends reality and imagination, merges scene and sentiment, and carries profound philosophical resonance.