The central image of Ai Qing's poems is the land and the sun, and the theme is patriotism. The image of the land reflects Ai Qing's deepest love for the motherland and people. The image of the sun shows the poet's passionate pursuit of light, ideal and a better life. Patriotism is an inexhaustible theme in Ai Qing's works, and the poet expresses a deep patriotic feeling through images. This feeling is common and typical among modern China people.
Another element of the artistic feature of Ai Qing's poems is "melancholy". On the one hand, Ai Qing's melancholy stems from his personal experience and personality, from the "wandering feeling" he felt during his study in France, and from the influence of western symbolism and impressionism. On the other hand, it also originated from that special era. Under the artillery fire of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Ai Qing traveled to the north, witnessed the sufferings of farmers in the north, and had a spiritual fit with the tradition of ancient China literati who were cynical and worried about the country and the people. Therefore, Ai Qing's melancholy is not negative, which permeates the poet's deep affection for the motherland and the people, and shows the poet's loyalty and deep thinking about life.