Poetic Every Day: A 365-Day Dialogue Between Poetry and Life

Author: Park Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Whether it is Ouyang Xiu's "Poetry flourishes in adversity," or Du Fu's "To compose a single line, I pluck several strands of hair," and so on, these painstaking efforts; or Cao Ziyu's swift and brilliant poetry composed in peril and grief, as well as Li Bai's "The Yellow River surges from the heavens," full of soaring confidence. When poetry, in the poet's heart, absorbs and merges like scattered threads, the muddiness gradually dissipates, ultimately becoming crystal clear—like a silkworm's body reaching its ultimate stage of transformation, a piece of soft jade from which endless silk can be spun, sealed with the spirit of the heavens and earth; or like water freezing into ice in the cold, its crystal-clear form inspiring thoughts of purity and clarity. Poetry undoubtedly represents the most refined and radiant form of literature. Poetry is truly a shining star in the vast cosmos of literature, illuminating the long, dark night and the depths of the soul. It is as if because of poetry, we can glimpse the boundless expanse of genius and touch the profound and winding paths of the heart. Therefore, those who are willing to approach poetry are those who, among the stars of the night sky, seek the deepest guidance for the soul. To be companions with poetry only enriches and brightens life, allowing life to flow in the clear words, washing away the filth of the mortal world time and again. Poetry is selfless; it will lead every person who opens their heart and mind to it into a light and transcendent realm. However, throughout history, the number of poems is as vast as the sands of the Ganges, yet few have been passed down and remembered by the world, let alone recited repeatedly. Sifting through the sand to find the gold is already no easy task, let alone selecting those that are perfectly round and radiant! Every Day with Poetic Meaning is a good book born from this arduous endeavor. The editor, apart from possessing the ability to read extensively in poetry, must also have a unique insight—selecting not only good poems but also excellent lines, and after selecting the lines, providing appropriate and relatable interpretations and analyses. If any of these three processes is missing, it will be a regret. But Park Yu, the editor of this book, her profound poetic talent and erudition, has made every aspect of the book truly commendable. The book selects 365 entries, each a distillation of the poets' refined emotions. While the main focus is on the excellent lines, each is accompanied by the complete original work, allowing for comparative reading that better reveals the poet's thought process in constructing their verses. In terms of editing, the book is divided into four seasons, forming a complete year—daily good poetry, seasonal gentleness. With a book like this, one can remain filled with emotion year after year.