Limestone hymn
Yu Qian
A thousand hammers cut deep mountains,
When the fire started, it was idle.
I'm not afraid of being smashed to pieces,
Leave your innocence in the world.
[Notes]
If you are free: it looks normal.
[Brief analysis]
This is a poem that holds things in the air to express one's ambition. The author uses lime as a metaphor to express his determination to be loyal to the country, not afraid of sacrifice and stick to noble sentiments.
As an object-chanting poem, it is of no value if it is only a mechanical record of things without the deep meaning of the author. The value of this poem lies in the metaphor that lime is everywhere, and reciting lime is to praise a person's open mind and lofty personality.
The first sentence, "It's not easy to dig limestone". The second sentence is "If the fire burns, it will be idle." "Burning", of course, refers to burning limestone. Adding the word "if you are idle" makes people feel that you are not only burning limestone, but also seems to symbolize that people with lofty ideals will take their time and regard it as idle no matter how severe the test is. The third sentence is "I am not afraid of death." "Broken to Pieces" vividly describes that limestone is burned into lime powder. The word "not afraid at all" reminds us that there may be a spirit of not being afraid of sacrifice. As for the last sentence "keep the world innocent", it is the author's sincere feelings and determination to be a pure and innocent person.
Yu Qian was deeply loved by the people for being an official and upright, rehabilitating unjust imprisonment and relieving famine. In Ming Yingzong, Walla invaded and Yingzong was captured. Yu Qian proposed the establishment of Jingdi, personally led the troops to stick to Beijing, repelled Vala, and rescued the people from the brutal rule of Mongolian nobles again. However, after the British Restoration, the national hero was falsely killed for "treason". This poem of lime can be said to be a true portrayal of Yu Qian's life and personality.