Among all the excellent poets, I love Li Shang-yin(李商隱) most. I love his works not so much for his allusive and mysterious style as for the true emotion they contain. I love him not only for his achievement in literature but for his noble character.
Many people regard Li Shang-yin just as a romantic poet. They don’t know he was an idealist, a patriot, and a man of compassion. Li Shang-yin was born in one of the darkest periods in China history. The conflict between two opposing parties resulted in a government in chaos. Unlike selfish politicians, Li Shang-yin always cared about the suffering commoners. He was not interested in power or fame. All he wanted was to reform the society and accomplish his great ideals without involving in either party. However, both parties denounced him and accused him of betrayal. Poverty, loss of love, and other hopeless tragedies visited him one by one, which caused his early death at forty-seven.
Given the painful circumstances, Li Shang-yin wrote his most beautiful poems. His poems have been recited, studied and memorized for more than one thousand years. They can move your heart and soul. You can almost feel his pain. Every time I read Li Shang-yin’s works or biographies, I can’t help but feel a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I love Li Shang-yin. I love his impressing poems. I love his insistence in a turbulent era. He is my favorite poet.
(1998.8.8.)
