I am a small grass

Author: Ding Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Classics are the treasures left behind by time, portraits and annotations of human nature. The significance of classics lies in their enduring freshness; no matter how time changes, they remain an unchanging landscape on the bookshelves of readers. In the ever-changing flow of time and life, where nothing can be repeated, classics are the words, sounds, and expressions that have conquered time. Those sincere statements, those fearless cries, those reflections on the human spirit, awaken our past hopes, inspire our present courage, and free us from emptiness, vanity, and doubt about the future. These images of wise people and timeless words purify our hearts, shake our souls, and teach us what can be missed but never forgotten, and what is fleeting yet invaluable. Indeed, every era should have its own literature. But classic literature does not belong solely to its own time; it also belongs to later generations of readers who can appreciate and share an artistic connection with it. Tracing the footsteps of modern Chinese prose in the 20th century, whether it's the early "Yushi School," the "Lunyu School," Bing Xin's prose praising maternal love, Xu Zhimo's "Wild Horse Running" prose, or the prose of Yang Shuo, Qin Mu, and Liu Baiyu, who were once hailed as new classics, or Yu Guangzhong on the other side of the strait determined to "cut off thees of prose," or even the recent "big cultural prose" or "little woman prose," at least in one aspect they are consistent: "I write with my own hands and speak with my own mouth." Regardless of the style, whether it's the hard-hitting political critiques leaning toward essays or the soft, melodramatic, and self-pitying, or the sorrowful and tearful reflections on scenes, prose, in a certain sense, can exist as a sanctuary for the soul or a refuge for the spirit. Art is independent, and prose must be personal. Like many modern writers, Ding Ling's literary creation in her later years focused primarily on prose. This genre is more suitable for people who have experienced hardships and tribulations to express their emotions. Her prose is natural, simple, passionate, unrestrained, concise, profound, vigorous, and exhilarating. She uses the most ordinary words to write the extraordinary realities of ordinary people, encompassing all kinds of emotions in life. In "I Am a Blade of Grass," Ding Ling tells of her creative process, her stories, and her deep feelings, revealing her passionate inner world and personal charm, leaving a beautiful impression and a profound memory on the literary youth. To enter the world of Ding Ling's prose, one must read this essay, "I Am a Blade of Grass."