1, prepare chicken and rice for me, old friend, you entertain me on your farm.
Source: From the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Haoran's Passing Old People's Village.
Appreciation: the beginning of this poem is very dull, as if it were just a note in the diary. The old friend "invited" and the author "arrived", and the text was simple and casual without rendering. However, this straightforward narrative way just reflects the tacit understanding between friends. They invited each other with "chicken and millet", which not only showed the unique flavor of Tianjia, but also saw the simplicity of hospitality.
It depicts a friend inviting a poet to his home. Chicken and millet are the hospitality food of Tianjia, which represents the enthusiasm and sincerity of the host and also shows the closeness and trust between friends.
We talked and laughed, just like before, except that our hair is a little gray now.
Source: Old Friends in Huaishang written by Wei, a poet in the Tang Dynasty.
Appreciation: This poem describes the poet meeting an old friend. Their previous laughter and intimacy remained the same, as if time had left no trace on their friendship. However, the traces of time have mercilessly appeared on their temples, becoming sparse and gray. This sharp contrast makes people feel more deeply the ruthlessness of time and the shortness of life.
In addition, this poem also uses the brushwork of "one joy and one sadness" to show two opposing emotions incisively and vividly. The contrast between laughter and sadness makes people understand the poet's mood swings and inner feelings more deeply. This writing skill also adds more artistic appeal to the whole poem.
Since we left each other, we drifted like clouds, and ten years passed like running water, until we finally got together again.
Source: Old Friends in Huaishang written by Wei, a poet in the Tang Dynasty.
Appreciation: This poem expresses the author's feelings after leaving his old friend and the helplessness of time flying by. Both floating clouds and flowing water are amorphous symbols, and the author uses them to describe the drifting after parting and the ruthlessness of time. Ten years later, time passed like running water, and the difference between the author and the old friend was as amorphous as floating clouds.
At the same time, this poem also expresses the author's deep nostalgia and yearning for his old friend. In the past ten years, the author has experienced many changes and ups and downs in his life, but he will never forget the friendship and laughter of his old friends. This kind of emotional expression makes people feel that the poet cherishes friendship and misses the past.