
A gentle chorus of verses invites listeners to drift over the mist‑kissed waters of West Lake, where lantern‑lit boats glide beneath willow shadows and the scent of blooming lotus fills the air. Each poem paints a fleeting scene—spring rain coaxing blossoms, moonlit nights that turn the lake into glass, and evening breezes that stir distant reeds—so the listener can almost hear the soft pluck of a lute and the rustle of silk.
The collection moves through a tapestry of classic lyric forms, from the refined ci of the Song dynasty to tender folk‑song refrains, all threaded by themes of love, memory, and the quiet passage of seasons. Voices rise and fall with the rhythm of tides, offering moments of joyous celebration beside pauses of reflective sighs, as scholars and wanderers alike contemplate fleeting beauty.
Listening feels like strolling along an ancient promenade, each stanza a step that reveals hidden alcoves of poetry and history. The subtle musicality of the language makes the experience both meditative and vivid, perfect for anyone who wishes to be carried away on a literary boat through time‑worn scenery.
Language
zh
Duration
~20 minutes (19K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2008-04-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1007–1072
A major voice of the Northern Song, this poet, historian, and statesman helped bring Chinese prose back to a clearer, more classical style. His essays and historical writing stayed influential long after his lifetime.
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