Poetry is a timeless tradition that goes back to ancient China but not many people feel as excited about poetry today as they did in years gone by. Don’t fret, however, because poetry is not a hard thing to get into and while I would not recommend jumping straight into traditional classics, such as Edgar Allen Poe’s Nevermore or Annabelle Lee I would suggest a dive into the Classics of Poetry, a collection of poems compiled by none other than Confucius.
While the Classics of Poetry itself was compiled by Confucius the exact authors behind the works remain unknown. Still, the feelings behind the poems remain as strong as ever even after the millennia that have passed by. One glance at the poem Fishhawk is sure to transport you to a place where arranged marriages were not only common but where marriage to multiple spouses was the norm. Feel free to draw your own conclusions as you read this tale of a wanted married woman. Was she faithful to her spouse or did she stray? The truth remains in the eye of the beholder.
Or what about Quince? The poem proves that love is indeed the greatest gift. Or perhaps the gift is not great enough? The best thing about poetry is that you are free to interpret it any way you’d like. The feelings come across just the same.
Question Corner:
Did Confucius Himself Write the Analects or Simply Compile Them?
Was the Story of Ying Ying Based in Real History?
Homework Time:
Study the poem “Fishhawk” and analyze it for content? Describe Your Feelings.
Was the Story of Ying Ying Based in Real History?
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