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.
Meaning:
It embodies 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.
The last two sentences are very poetic. After the chrysanthemum blooms, it gradually fades on the branches, but the petals don't fade and fall to the ground, so the cloud says, "The branches hold incense and die." That is to say, I would rather die than adhere to integrity, and I will not succumb to the ruling clique of Mengyuan, which shows the lofty integrity of "I would rather die than surrender" and sincerely interprets the poet's own lofty national integrity.