Xin Qijis Storm of Lost Ambition | Generated by AI
I’d be happy to introduce “Mo Yu Er” (摸鱼儿), a famous Chinese ci poem (lyric poetry set to a melody).
“Mo Yu Er” is a ci form that belongs to the Man Ting Fang style of classical Chinese poetry. The most celebrated version was written by Xin Qiji (辛弃疾, 1140-1207), one of the greatest poets of the Southern Song Dynasty.
The poem is known for its passionate yet melancholic tone. Xin Qiji wrote it during a period of political frustration when he was sidelined from military service despite his burning desire to help recover northern territories lost to the Jin Dynasty.
The opening lines are particularly famous:
“更能消几番风雨” - “How many more storms can be endured?”
The poem uses rich natural imagery—spring flowers, wind and rain, swallows—as metaphors for the passage of time, lost opportunities, and the poet’s anxiety about his country’s fate. There’s a deep sense of urgency mixed with helplessness, as the poet watches time slip away while unable to serve his country.
The ci form itself is quite sophisticated, with two stanzas of unequal length and a complex tonal and rhyme pattern that creates a musical, flowing quality when read aloud.
Would you like me to discuss any particular aspect of the poem in more detail, such as its historical context, imagery, or themes?