The emotional tone of this poem is melancholy. Many words express melancholy and full of melancholy thoughts; In the realistic description of the sad place, the author's melancholy subjective feelings are permeated. But this kind of melancholy is not pessimism and despair, but can give people strength, and the author in the poem turns melancholy into strength.
In this poem, the poet not only laments the poverty and backwardness in the north and the suffering brought to the people in the north by the war, but also eulogizes the unyielding will to survive and the determination to defend the country since ancient times, and has strong patriotic feelings.
The whole poem is lyrical and freehand with images, which outlines a dynamic picture of the northland, vivid and accurate. This poem is a typical free verse, which follows the natural rhythm of language and emotion, is not limited by external rules, has the beauty of prose, and has a dignified and deep style.
Extended data
Creation background
This poem was written in February 1938. At that time, War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression broke out, and the war approached the Yellow River like thunder. Ai Qing, Xiao Hong, Xiao Jun, Nie Gannu, Duanmu Hongliang, Zhang Ding and other cultural friends applied to teach at Shanxi University for Nationalities, passing through Tongguan, Shaanxi.
The poet witnessed the desolate, gloomy and chaotic scene of the northern land under the cloud of war, and his heart was greatly shocked. A friend lamented "sadness in the north", which triggered his thinking. Therefore, the poet wrote this poem "North" when passing through Tongguan, and published it on the front page of July magazine in April of the same year.