To Autumn

Author: Liu Yuxi (772—842)

Previous poets all lamented on fall as a bleak time of year;

I say autumn outshines spring here.

A crane passes clouds to reach the sunny sky;

And brings my poetic thoughts all the way up to the azure sphere.

Liu was a government official in the Tang Dynasty. During his lifetime, Liu mainly worked for the federal government, but was demoted to several local governments due to the failure of a political reform he had supported.

Liu’s poems often present his unconventional observations of common phenomena as well as clever usage of plain language. The poem above is a typical example of his style, in which the author’s enterprising and optimistic spirit was clearly shown.

Copyright: A POETIC PORTAL TO CHINESE CULTURE, China Pictorial Press