The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry: From Ancient to Contemporary, The Full 3000-Year Tradition

[Angel]

This is a pretty cool read. I had no idea how important poetry was to the Chinese culture/history. In order to have a job in the government one was required to be a poet. Poetry of women's point of view, Poetry holding political views. Political poetry can up your status or cost you your life.

Interesting indeed.

 

[Barbarian]

If one couldn't dash off an extemporaneous poem, one wasn't considered educated.

A subtle form of political expression could be done in poetry, where each character has a specific meaning, but the sound of the character could be something else, permitting an underlying message below the formal meaning.

 

[Angel]

(The Tang Dynasty is said to have had the most talented poets)

 

[Obadiah]

Didn't know any of this. I'm sure glad we don't have to do that here. I can write poetry as well as I can fly. I'd probably try, make a mistake, and get killed for it! :nod

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Didn't know any of this. I'm sure glad we don't have to do that here. I can write poetry as well as I can fly. I'd probably try, make a mistake, and get killed for it! :nod

Anything in there about roses being red?

 

[Angel]

Obadiah is red,
Rollo is blue,
are either of you
schooled in kung fu?
(That may protect you more than poetry!)

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

So you're calling Obadiah a rose and me a violet.
What's that all about?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Hey Obadiah, I think Angel made a political poem about us.
Let's take it to the red power, Reba kung fu.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Rollo say, "It wise to have morning cup of coffee before you make political poem".

 

[Angel]

So you're calling Obadiah a rose and me a violet.
What's that all about?

Just a poor attempt to be funny.

 

[Obadiah]

Hey Obadiah, I think Angel made a political poem about us.
Let's take it to the red power, Reba kung fu.

LOL!

I think Reba requires you address her as Red Leader.

 

[Barbarian]

Didn't know any of this. I'm sure glad we don't have to do that here. I can write poetry as well as I can fly. I'd probably try, make a mistake, and get killed for it! :nod

With your woman, flowers and poetry will fix almost everything. When I mention that to my students, the guys all shake their heads incredulously, and the girls all nod vigorously.

Skill worth learning.

 

[Obadiah]

With your woman, flowers and poetry will fix almost everything. When I mention that to my students, the guys all shake their heads incredulously, and the girls all nod vigorously.

Skill worth learning.

Obviously one of the reasons I'm single!

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Red Leader!
You're assistance is needed in poetry room.

 

[Barbarian]

.Climbing the Crane Pagoda

White sunlight disappears
from the hillside,
Yellow River flows on
into the sea.
Desiring to scan
the thousand-mile vista
I climb another story
of the pagoda.

 

[Barbarian]

水白雾
白鸭绒从雾出现
无声白色的世界。

White mist on water.
White duck appears in the mist
A silent white world.