original text
Flowers bloom/don't close/let a hundred flowers blossom,
Independent/hedged/interesting.
Would rather/stick/hold incense to death,
Once/blown down by the wind/in the north wind!
Vernacular translation
You bloom in autumn and never accompany flowers. Alone by the sparse fence, your sentiment and interest have not diminished. I would rather die in the branches than in the cold north wind!
Creation background
Zheng Sixiao was a patriotic poet in the late Southern Song Dynasty. After the demise of the Southern Song Dynasty, the author lived in seclusion in a monk temple in Suzhou and never came out as an official again. He even sat facing south, indicating that he had not forgotten the Song Dynasty. This poem was written after the demise of the Southern Song Dynasty.
works appreciation
Text appreciation
This poem entitled "Cold Chrysanthemum" shows Zheng Sixiao's ideological character and open mind. Poetry begins with the fragrance of the evening: flowers bloom in the bright spring, and the unique chrysanthemum stands in the fierce wind and frost, not competing with flowers. Zheng went on to write that the flowers had withered, and only chrysanthemums stood by the hedge, which was full of interest. The "interest" here not only refers to the natural interest of chrysanthemum in resisting frost and displaying brilliance alone, but also refers to the painter's subjective interest in chrysanthemum image, that is, lofty, loyal, sincere and complacent. Tao Yuanming's interest in "picking chrysanthemums under the hedge" and "making sense" is integrated into the poem. Fan Chengda mentioned the saying that "Chrysanthemum is not as good as a gentleman" in Preface to Chrysanthemum in Fan Village. As the saying goes, when people get old, flowers and trees will decline, which is the only thing that makes your hair look beautiful and proud. This is a gentleman's practice. Fan Chengda's preface is consistent with the theme of Zheng Sixiao's poems, and the model essay can help us understand the profound connotation of Zheng Sixiao's poetic images.