Red candle · Still water

Author: Wen Yiduo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Red Candle was first published in early September 1923 by Taodong Publishing House and is a collection of poems by Wen Yiduo. Many of the poems were written during his time studying abroad, and some exhibit tendencies, such as Color, which expresses reverence for the "color" above all else, and Sword Case, which conveys the sorrow of the disillusionment of artistic dreams. However, the dominant spirit throughout 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 like Orphaned Goose, Ode to the Sun, and Remembrance of Chrysanthemums all reveal the poet's pure and sincere heart. In form, The Red Candle is a free verse work, close to the romanticism and temperament of Guo Moruo's Goddess. Death Water, published in January 1928, is Wen Yiduo's second collection of poems. Most of the poems in Death Water were written after the poet returned to his homeland. The intense conflict arises from the fervent expectations he held for his country while abroad versus the reality he encountered upon returning. This stark emotional contrast led the poet to express strong dissatisfaction with society, as seen in poems like Discovery and Death Water. Additionally, the collection Death Water fully realizes Wen Yiduo's integration of color and emotional tone in poetry, highlighting the poetic essence through meticulous composition and intensifying the power of the poems with vivid contrasts. However, an excessive pursuit of metrical refinement also affected the liveliness and depth of some of his poems.