甌北詩話

This listening experience brings the rare collection “甌北詩話,” a tapestry of poetry and notes centered on the enigmatic Tang poet Li Qinglian. The editor presents him as a figure of celestial inspiration, praised for a style that glides beyond ordinary constraints. His verses blend the ancient “gu feng” tradition with daring, almost supernatural images that still surprise seasoned readers. The introduction sets a tone for a journey through a mind that defies strict metric form while mastering elegant couplets.

Listeners will hear a varied selection: over fifty “gu feng” poems, a few regulated verses, and numerous yuefu pieces that echo court intrigue, border skirmishes, and personal longing. Commentary links Li’s work to the An Lushan rebellion, his brief service under princes, and his eventual retreat to the mountains. The narration balances recitation with scholarly insight, letting the ear feel the breath of the original lines and the historical pulse behind them. It offers an intimate portrait of a poet who chased immortality through wordcraft, delivering both beauty and context.