User Comments - obitoddkenobi
obitoddkenobi
Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明
March 31, 2009 at 4:38 AMIn 1976 I was in Beijing on Tomb Sweeping day. It was in the wake of Zhou Enlai's passing. In the days leading up to April 4th, tens of thousands of people honored Zhou Enlai by bringing wreaths to the Monument to the Martyrs. Mixed in with the wreaths were poems that went beyond honoring him, to warning of ghosts and monsters lurking in high places. Many people saw Zhou Enlai as a force for moderation and opening to the world. When he died, they feared for the direction of China. It was with good reason too, as the wreaths and poems were abruptly taken away, and the mourners were attacked for being reactionary. I will always remember a man who stepped out of the crowd, telling me in no uncertain terms, "No one can stop us from showing our love for Premier Zhou!" Those people were later redeemed, but it took some bravery to take the stand that they did at that time. Sometimes poetry, death, and life all come together with certain irresistable power. The story of the loyal minister who risks for the sake of justice and others is a strong strand in Chinese poetry. It serves as a counter weight to politics gone astray. May poetry live long and serve all of its functions in making this world a more beautiful place. Thanks again Pete for your promotion of poetry in all of its functions here.
Posted on: Grass 草
March 28, 2009 at 9:10 PMBill, Li Sao 离骚， is part of the Chu Ci 楚辞，by Qu Yuan 屈原 (c. 340-c. 278 B.C.E.). Thanks for your work on this.
Pete, as always great work.
Posted on: Gone Fishing
March 26, 2009 at 2:14 PMrjberki, Yes, night crawlers. I discovered after moving to San Francisco Bay area, there is nothing similar to night crawlers. It seems the Great Lakes area is the best place to find them.
Posted on: Gone Fishing
March 26, 2009 at 4:27 AMActually, I enjoyed catching the bait. My aunt and uncle lived on a lake. My family had a ritual of watering the lawn the evening before going for a visit. This caused the earthworms to come out and it was my job to catch as many as I could before they would retreat down their hole. I seemed to have the quickest reflexes in the family, a point of pride, especially since I was the youngest. My aunt and uncle were the kind of fishermen that would set out at 5:00 a.m., and could stay out on a boat for seven or eight hours of fishing, (at least that's my memory of it). That was a little too early and too long for me. I just caught perch and bluegill from off the dock. Good memories.
Posted on: Stopping at a Friend's Farm -- 过故人庄
March 3, 2009 at 6:15 AMI too was struck by your phrase, "putting aside your daily concerns to go share some simple pleasures with a friend". It is an nice way of putting it. Given the vulnerability that the economic crisis is putting a lot of people in, it would be nice if that were something Americans could find again. Simple Gifts, an old Quaker tune, was one of the pieces played by Yo yo Ma, Yitzhak Pearlman, Anthony McGill, and Gabriela Montero at the inauguration of Barack Obama.
- 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
- "Tis the gift to come down where you out to be,
- And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
- 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
- When true simplicity is gain'd,
- To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
- To turn, turn will be our delight,
- Till by turning, turning we come out right.
Posted on: Dreams of the Departed 陇西行
February 24, 2009 at 8:58 PMWow Pete, you continue to inspire the poetic in us and much language research too. I continue to be impressed with the collective wisdom of this group of people who listen and share. It makes us all so much wiser and full of knowledge too. Good choices...but poetry will do that! ChinesePod can't be disliking their decision to allow you to do this. It fills a part that can't be filled by Lao Wang and his trials and tribulations or how to make a business presentation. Thanks to all for their contributions.
Posted on: Drinking Alone Under the Moon 月下独酌
February 10, 2009 at 5:30 AM9 月 and 4 酉, final answer.
Posted on: Drinking Alone Under the Moon 月下独酌
February 10, 2009 at 5:29 AMOops
Posted on: Drinking Alone Under the Moon 月下独酌
February 10, 2009 at 5:23 AMI count 7 月 and 4 酉.
Posted on: Watching the Sun Go Down -- 登乐游原
April 21, 2009 at 1:25 AMWonderful poem by an outstanding poet. I've been captured by the ephemerality of life lately. A sudden burst of flowers, a spring day, young folks in love, the coming and going of leaves on the tree in the back yard. Maybe I'm getting old. As always, great job Pete.