Me: Mr Yang, why do you enjoy poetry?
Mr Yang: My name is Yang Chaobo. My hometown is Xianju in Taizhou, Zhejiang – meaning ‘where immortals dwell’. Moreover, due to my profession at the Water Resources Bureau, I frequently traverse the rivers and streams of Xianju. Having recited poetry since childhood, I find resonance with ancient verse whilst walking amidst these landscapes. When I behold the ethereal lake waters, I envision bridges like rainbows, waters like emptiness, and a single leaf drifting in misty rain; observing solitary wild geese, I recall”落霞与孤骛齐飞”; witnessing fireworks illuminating the heavens, I recall “东方夜放花千树，更吹落，星如雨”。
Me: When did you first develop an appreciation for poetry? And when did you begin composing your own?
Teacher Yang: The seeds of poetry were sown in my heart as early as secondary school. My Chinese teacher would have us recite various classical poems daily—a tedious yet immensely rewarding practice. It wasn’t until after I started working and gained more free time that I began delving into lyric composition. Though unsure where to begin, I drew inspiration from ancient masters’ works and started writing in their style, often sharing my creations on social media for my own amusement.
Me: What milestones have marked your journey in poetry?
Teacher Yang: One day in 2017, the Xianju County Poetry and Couplets Society held its 30th-anniversary celebration, and I was fortunate enough to attend. Coincidentally, it was also my 30th birthday. This proved a pivotal moment: the society had been founded the very year I was born, originally named the “一瓢 Poetry Society”. Why “一瓢”? 一瓢 was the pen name of Wen Sen, Xianju’s most renowned poet. It was on that very day that I met my mentor in poetry, Mr Zhang Xun (a writer, poet, former Deputy Director of Taizhou Museum, and scholar of cultural relics research, renowned for his erudition and profound knowledge). Under Mr Zhang’s guidance, my own poetry gradually found its footing, opening the door to classical verse composition.
Me: What does poetry mean to you?
Teacher Yang: I often read the poetry of Su Shi, Du Fu, and Li Qingzhao. I cherish the energy and soothing quality within their words. When I encounter beauty, feel joy, or experience sorrow, I entrust my innermost emotions to the lines of verse, capturing my state of mind with the most unadorned and sincere sentiments. Poetry is like a dear friend in my life—it never grows distant with time, nor feels unfamiliar across great distances. It is a ray of sunshine, a full moon, a star in the sky; a spring breeze, a summer shower, an autumn leaf, a flake of winter snow—constantly influencing me. Poetry nourishes my soul and enriches my existence. To quote Teacher Zhang Xun: “Every soul harbours a poetic heart.” Should you cherish it enough and choose to embrace it, you may dwell in poetry’s company.
poetry：
初到成都
暮春客作锦官城，天府澄江两岸迎。
最是一年花正好，笙歌留醉到通明。
游三星堆后感
巍然川蜀国，洛水汉州边。
沉寂经千载，名扬动九天。
无双珍宝器，冠绝峨眉巅。
忆昔蚕丛路，沧桑年复年。
成都谒杜甫草堂
川蜀风流地，桥西一草堂。
名扬千古句，诗断九州肠。
异代思如此，前贤喜可量。
少陵归野老，我亦晒书忙。
