Cao zhi
Boil beans and burn beans,
The beans are crying in the kettle.
Originally born from the same root,
Why are you in such a hurry to blow each other up?
[Notes]
1. pot (f incarnation): ancient pot.
2. Fried: suffering, metaphorical persecution.
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[Brief analysis]
According to Shi Shuo Xin Yu, Cao Zhi's brother Cao Pi wanted to persecute Cao Zhi after he proclaimed himself emperor, so he ordered Cao Zhi to write a poem in just seven steps. As a result, Cao Zhi sang this seven-step poem. The poet used the metaphor of fried beans to accuse Cao Pi of cruel persecution of himself and other brothers.
The first two sentences, "Boil beans and burn beans, and beans cry in the kettle", describe the sharp contradiction between "beans" and "beans" and the cruel persecution of beans by beans. The last two sentences are "born from the same root, why speculate with each other!" Make the finishing point and prompt the theme of the poem. The word "the same root" is a pun. On the surface, it means that "glutinous rice" and "beans" grow on the same root. Actually, they were born to the same parents as xelloss, and asked xelloss why he was so anxious about his younger brother and sister.
The metaphor of this poem is very apt, simple and vivid. Although it is still difficult to determine whether this poem itself is really written by Cao Zhi, it reflects the internal contradictions of Cao Wei's ruling group with vivid images, and it is indeed a good poem.