Red candle · Dead water

Author: Wen Yiduo
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Red Candles was first published in September 1923 by Ta Dong Book Company and is a collection of poems by Wen Yiduo. Many of the poems were written during his time studying abroad, and some exhibit a tendency toward aestheticism. For example, Color expresses reverence for the "color" that transcends all else, while Sword Case conveys the sorrow of the disillusionment of artistic dreams. However, the dominant spirit that runs through the collection is the pursuit of truth by a passionate young man, his deep love for his homeland, and his critique of the dark world. The "red candle" itself symbolizes his fervent love for his country and his wish for its rebirth. A series of poems such as Lone Goose, Ode to the Sun, and In Memory of Chrysanthemums reveal the poet's pure and innocent heart. In form, Red Candles is a free verse style, close to the romanticism and temperament of Guo Moruo's Goddess. Dead Water, published in January 1928, is Wen Yiduo's second collection of poems. Most of the poems in Dead Water were written after he returned to his homeland. The strong contrast between his fervent hopes for his country while abroad and the reality he encountered upon returning created a profound emotional conflict. This immense disparity led the poet to express strong dissatisfaction with society, as seen in poems like Discovery and Dead Water. Additionally, the collection Dead Water fully embodies Wen Yiduo's integration of color and emotional tone in poetry, using precise composition to highlight the poetic essence and employing vivid contrasts to enhance the power of the verses. However, an excessive pursuit of metrical regularity also affected the flexibility and depth of some of his poems.