At the Double Ninth Festival



At the Double Ninth Festival
By William He

The dusk-burnt with the golden veins,
Smoldering along the flame,
Twilight's eyes gaze at blackish peaks.
At the fall of the fronds,
How the heart feels a sentimental now,
Cranes in a daze watching sunset glow.
Slimming ridge against the violescent sky scarfed with crimson throw,
Walking and hearing the harps of faded trees in the melancholy runes.
Chrysanthemums lying down on the ground,
Anyone could trample them out of shape anytime,
Undisturbed by a single moan of protest then.

Telling the wild geese flying,
It may be the time to go back.
Reminiscences cure all things,
Man alone through the breeze.
It is all sere and yellow,
The wind scatters the golden leaves.
Shadow of the cornus officinalis is lurking within the moods,
Rustling of the withered bracts is the constant music of gloom.
Maybe there is someone,
Whose arms with the infinitely force,
Holding back elapsed days.

满江红 甲辰重阳
作者:何威廉

天色初晴,
渐清晰,
众峰冥悟。
望远处、
大鹏恻怅,
鹤声幽愫。
一带红棉明远水,
半坡黄菊轻尘露。
又重阳、
何事惹伤怀,
谁私语。

飞雁倦,
期返翥。
浮叶掉,
萦心路。
见东篱落魄,
满地花絮。
引步登高萸影走,
琴弦弹响秋虫晤。
悄无言、
搔首暮烟生,
凄迷去。

About this poem

"At the Double Ninth Festival" is a strong reflection on aging, memory, and the cycles of nature that mirror the human experience. Through rich imagery and cultural symbolism, the author creates a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of loss, while also acknowledging the moments of beauty that arise even in decay. The chrysanthemums, geese, cornus officinalis, and golden leaves all serve as metaphors for life's transience, reinforcing the poem's central message: though time moves forward, leaving behind only memories, there is a quiet grace in accepting life's natural ebb and flow. The poem speaks to a universal experience—the awareness of time's passage and the melancholy it brings—while also grounding this experience in the specific cultural context of the Double Ninth Festival. By weaving together personal reflection and natural imagery, the author creates a piece that resonates with readers on both an emotional and intellectual level, inviting them to contemplate their own relationship with time, memory, and the inevitability of change. 

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Written on October 08, 2024

Submitted by chinamcc8 on October 08, 2024

Modified by chinamcc8 on October 10, 2024

1:03 min read
576

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XXXXXAAXXXX XXXXAXXXXXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,346
Words 209
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 11, 11, 2, 11, 11

William He

 · 1961

William Yu He graduated from two of the most prestigious law schools in China respectively, also studied in Heidelberg, Cambridge and Harvard. He has published dozens of classical poems and lyrics in Chinese language. Three of his poems were collected in the antholog “call my name and I 'll be there" published in February, 2024. He is know for five of his poems included in the anthology in English "Dancing on Moonbeams" published in USA in September, 2024. He already published his English poetry anthology "Eyes Wide Open: Poems by William He" in USA. The Incumbent President of China quoted his classic poem in 2017. The President of Harvard University recognized his achievements in June, 2021. more…

All William He poems | William He Books

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Discuss the poem At the Double Ninth Festival with the community...

9 Comments
  • mfortney2538
    Great job
    LikeReply26 days ago
  • sharona.reeves81
    Cyclical journey poetically penned...great job
    LikeReply27 days ago
  • jamescbrowning
    Is the Kanji at the end the same as the English part?
    LikeReply28 days ago
  • jerryl.01657
    My Humble Applause.
    LikeReply29 days ago
  • krystynmaynard
    Beautiful poem.
    LikeReply29 days ago
  • alanswansea18
    That's one beautiful piece of work.
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • Komael
    The poet is very insightful
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • Htrout24
    Enjoyed reading this
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • AmyMMosier
    I never heard of the word "violescent" before and now I will always remember it! Great imagery and so appropriate for the fall.
    LikeReply1 month ago

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"At the Double Ninth Festival" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Nov. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/200542/at-the-double-ninth-festival>.

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