Magnificent ancient poetry, lyrics, and songs
Li Hongwei's "Ode to the Setting Sun"
In Tianjin, I spent my leisure time, and my seven years of drifting in the north were long. Crossing the ocean, the youthful dreams of the four seas suddenly faded, but my feelings for the vast white snow remained the same. Cherishing the elegance of ancient and modern times, I recite beautiful prose, and my heart soars.
To appreciate the elegance of poetic meter and achieve a rich, fluid style; to admire beautiful scenery and delight the eyes and heart; to observe waterfalls and grand vistas for a broad perspective, marveling at the artistry of nature; to traverse myriad paths and accumulate knowledge, thereby strengthening one's wisdom.
Bridging thousands of miles to know three paths, gazing at the nine heavens and composing for five watches. With matching aspirations, I delve into ink and cultivate my pen; with shared ideals, I express my true feelings. My heart yearns for the moon shining bright over my homeland. With songs and dances, dragons soar; in rhyme and metre, poets are intoxicated.
Time flies, yet my spirit lingers in my twilight years. I cultivate my own paradise, for it is never too late. I delight in writing and discussing calligraphy and painting, indulging my passions. Pine, plum, cypress, orchid, bamboo—symbols of nobility, elegance, and unsullied virtue. My heart overflows with new creations, imbued with the fragrance of lotus. My thoughts, countless, reside in my computer, flowing from my fingertips. Busy, busy, busy, and yet, what joy I find!
The mortal world's journey is long, how can everything go as we wish? Don't strive for perfection in everything, find joy in every moment.Weathered and weary, my gaze drifts like clouds. Tang Dynasty charm returns with the moon's glow. Listening to birdsong, smelling the floral scent, I love it best when flowers are half-bloomed. I bathe in the sunset daily, and gaze at the misty clouds often. How wonderful it is!
Selected Poems of Li Hongwei Remembering His Hometown
Seven-character regulated verse • My hometown
Tianjin summer heat, Jizhou's cool breeze; Gushu stream's light mist, gently does it please.
Fantastical kites lift the coast, ancient streets paint the heavenly palace with mud colors.
Dry boat lion sings the imperial opera, Old Zhai's throat lozenges moisten the throat.
Remembering Premier Zhou's time at Nankai, his horse's hooves, the lotus's charm, and his rich, beautiful words.
Note:
1. Jizhou: Emperor Qianlong visited many times, leaving behind numerous poems; it is also a sacred site for Tianjin residents for tourism and summer resort. 2. Horsehoof: This metaphor refers to Premier Zhou's famous saying, “Mount a horse to slay the enemy, dismount to study Buddhism,” and also to the Ma Ti Lake at Nankai University, where lotus flowers bloom. 3. Lotus Rhyme: This metaphor refers to Professor Ye Jiaying, who worked into her hundreds and lived beside the lotus flowers of Ma Ti Lake. Her childhood nickname was “Little Lotus,” and Professor Ye loved, cultivated, and wrote about lotuses.
Seven-character regulated verse • My hometown—–Gendou (New Chinese Rhyme)
Where the Nine Rivers meet, Tianjin guard, See the colorful Vajra at the harbor.
Ecological Lutai green willows, candied hawthorn, honey triplets.
Shimen flavors, royal vegetarian; eight pieces of cooked pear, common people's cake.
Fast-paced crosstalk and traditional opera melodies, belly laughs from the Tianjin locals make you bend over.
Note: 1. Jingang: Refers to Jingang Bridge, located at Sancha River Mouth, historically known as “Sanhai Port,” and is the earliest birthplace of Tianjin. 2. Ecological Lutai: Refers to Lutai Chun, an ecological park and famous Tianjin wine. 3. Qingliu Painting: Refers to the time-honored Yangliuqing New Year pictures. 4. Honey Three Knives: Legend has it that during the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo was drinking and composing poetry with the hermit Zhang Shan on Yunlong Mountain. He drew a newly acquired precious sword and tested its sharpness on a bluestone, making three deep cuts. At this moment, a servant brought out newly made honey pastries, which were very delicious but had no name. Everyone asked Dongpo to name the pastries. Seeing the three shallow cut marks on the surface of the pastries, he casually replied, “They are Honey Three Knives.”
Seven-character regulated verse · Hometown's Pass
Majestic and steep, a towering presence, ancient relics hidden within the Bagua Palace.
A cloud-sea dragon flies back to its homeland, Misty waves stretch for thousands of miles across the vast sky.
The Yellow Cliff glows at sunset, the white jade mountains and forests are lush.
Five-hole stone tower, beacon fire leads the way, Three marvels of ink, great man revered.
Faint Aroma • Winter in my Hometown
The vast plains of Jizhou. Entering the immortal pavilion of the Eight Immortals, the magical dance of the East.
A touch of rouge, translucent ice crystals, a hidden fragrance encountered.
The wind carries frost on its proud branches, clouds come and go, the slanted branches are unorderly.
But I saw it, shaking off the remaining clouds, and the charming, beautiful pistil and stamen bloomed.
Thousands of trees. Bound by lingering rain. Yearning through the four seasons, joyfully meeting three friends.
The wine cup is filled with blessings. Shamefully, ten thousand flowers yearn for spring to stay.
Using crisp flower imagery to craft poetic lines, Chanting on the silver ridge, an ode to bamboo, pine, and plum.
Entering the painting scroll, elegant beauty, intoxicated playing the qin.
Li Hongwei's reflections on life's words
Crabapple blossom spring · Grateful for our meeting
A chance encounter in this mortal world.
The phoenix's elegance, a sorrowful stirring of the soul.
Nine acres of orchids are fragrant, and ten thousand miles of agarwood curl.
Poetic flowers on the other side of the ocean are flamboyant.
Qu Ya Fu, Qing Xin Yue Zao.
The brush strokes are frustratingly late, but how much ink charm is there to know?
Author's Profile: Li Hongwei, a woman with a science and engineering background, retired Senior Editor of the journal “Natural Science Edition.” Member of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association. Passionate about poetry, she has created over a thousand regulated poems and Ci. Her original regulated poems, Ci, and Fu have been published in poetry societies, online journals, newspapers, and online platforms both domestically and internationally. She has participated in three “Award for Regulated Poetry Creation” events on relevant platforms, winning ”Excellence Award,” "Gold Award," and "Distinguished Award" respectively. In the "Huaxia Classic Cup Literary Masters Cup" Elite Competition, she won the second prize for "Best Golden Pen Award." She has published personal collections in publications such as "Chinese and Foreign Poets," "Jiuzhou Poetry Society," and "Famous Works." She currently resides in Canada. Her past work experience includes teaching, scientific research, research management, journal editing, and serving as Technical Director of a patent agency and intellectual property company. She is a Senior Chinese Patent Agent, a member of the Tianjin Association of Retired Professors and Senior Professionals, a member of the Chinese Patent Agents Association, a member of the China Invention Association, and a member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy. She has been engaged in education for over 40 years.
