"The Lady of Shalott" by John William Waterhouse‘Dryads’ Winter Lament’ by Wandi Zhu The Society December 9, 2018 Beauty, Poetry 15 Comments As autumn breezes blow away The warmth of summer’s sun, Then shortened is the light of day When we had danced as one. The prelude to the winter snow Is sung by icy rain, The rosiness of dawn’s soft glow Usurped by cloudy stains. The bitter winds strip off the trees Their red and golden leaves. Our tears met by the North wind freeze. Trees barren, bleak, we grieve. The winter days we pass in dreams Of fragrances of spring, Of murmurs of the waking stream And songs the birds will sing. Farewell, farewell, sweet summer days That blessed us with birdsong, Adieu, bright flames of autumn’s blaze, Pray winter won’t be long. Wandi Zhu is studying English language and literature at the University of British Columbia, and is a former professional classical Chinese dancer. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 15 Responses Joe Tessitore December 9, 2018 Very beautiful and something almost dance-like about it. Reply Mark Stone December 9, 2018 Wandi, Hello. 1. I would put this poem in five quatrains, instead of one long stanza. That way, for me at least, it would be easier to read and easier to appreciate. 2. In the first stanza, if it said “blew away,” then I think that “had danced” would be appropriate. But since it says “blow away” (i.e., present tense), I think it should be “danced” or “have danced.” Also, “then shortened” sounds a tiny bit awkward. Here is one possibility: As autumn breezes blow away The warmth of summer’s sun, Diminished is the light of day Since when we danced as one. 3. I would find a way to make lines 6 and 8 have an exact rhyme. The easiest fix might be to change “rain” to “rains.” 4. I would find a way to make lines 13 & 15 have an exact rhyme. The easiest fix might be to change “stream” to “streams.” 5. Although I usually have reservations about inversions, my favorite line is: “Our tears met by the North wind freeze.” Beautiful. 6. I recommend ending line 18 with a period instead of a comma. 7. Just yesterday, on the radio, I heard Frank Sinatra singing “Autumn Leaves.” Nat King Cole also does an excellent version. The song was originally a French song. The English lyrics, which were written by Johnny Mercer, are as follows: The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold I see your lips, the summer kisses The sun-burned hands I used to hold Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall Your poem made me think of that song. Thank you. 8. Notwithstanding my suggestions, I think your poem is really, really good. It’s all there: meter, rhyme, mood, message, imagery, assonance, consonance, nuance and finesse. Very nicely done! Reply Wandi Zhu December 9, 2018 Mr. Stone, Thank you very much for your suggestions and feedback . I really appreciate it. Reply David Paul Behrens December 9, 2018 I love Johnny Mercer, who wrote a tremendous amount of song lyrics over a long span of time. He wrote ‘Old Man River’ in the nineteen thirties and then ‘Moon River’ in the sixties. Mr. Stone: Your are kind of a one man Siskel and Ebert of poetry. I am continually impressed by your frequently adept analysis and critiques of the poetry posted on this website and your ability to intricately dissect poems, breaking them down, line by line, word by word, syllable by syllable, comma by comma, apostrophe by apostrophe, with such thorough and systematic acumen. Are you basically just a poetry critic, a teacher, or are you also a poet? With your apparent superb ability to analyze, would it be possible to direct us to the superb poetry you have written? Reply David Paul Behrens December 9, 2018 My apologies for the typo. James A. Tweedie December 9, 2018 I share you appreciation of Mercer, but Ol’ Man River was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for Showboat in 1931. By the way, I share in the enthusiasm for this lovely poem and for all the reasons that have been previously articulated David Paul Behrens December 10, 2018 Mr. Tweedie – There was a vague question in my mind about that song after I made that comment and I began to wonder if anyone might correct me. Thank you for doing so. I realized I may have been mistaken while watching 60 minutes and they showed a clip of Paul Robeson singing the song in Showboat. Sally Cook December 9, 2018 Dear Wandi -= Your theme is lovely. It contains so many elements of dance. As both a poet and painter, I find that beauty expressed in all forms of art often crosses over from one discipline to another, and I see that you also know this. Very nice work, and thank you for it. . Reply Damian Robin December 9, 2018 Thanks Wandi, your poem is elegiac and dance-like. Joe and Sally mention this dance element. It brings to mind old traditions of movement, sound, and meaning working well when performed. The title helps this thought come up. (Maybe you are considering going into choreography doing an audio of this poem.) In dance, props and costumes have an effect. The video https://www.shenyun.com/videos/latest-videos/play/zPSHviGOP_Y/wearing-our-traditions%E2%80%94costumes-through-the-eyes-of-shen-yun-dancers puts this simply. Mark, your suggestions are nicely considered. And it’s good to be reminded that pop songs can have a traditional feel. Reply Damian Robin December 9, 2018 (Maybe you are considering going into choreography or doing an audio of this poem.) [sorry for typo] Reply Martin Rizley December 9, 2018 The lovely imagery drawn from the change of seasons effectively creates a poignant mood of time’s passing, painful loss, along with the hope of renewal. Thanks for posting it. Reply David Paul Behrens December 9, 2018 A beautiful and rhythmic poem. Very nice. Reply David December 10, 2018 Very nice imagery. It does make me think of some of the Chinese poetry I’ve read (in translation). The power of their imagery is great and very dense. I wrote something inspired by those readings, “Chinese Mountain Man.” https://www.thechainedmuse.com/single-post/2018/11/15/Chinese-Mountain-Man I look forward to seeing more of your stuff. Dave Reply David Watt December 10, 2018 The well-wrought images of seasons in transition make this poem active from beginning to end, and therefore, satisfying to read. Reply Shari Jo LeKane December 10, 2018 Dear Wandi Zhu, I like the allusion to the ‘Dryads’ Lament in your poem, expressing a feeling of loss a and hope for renewal in the midst of seasonal transition, which gives your poem a mystical quality as I envision the poetic narrative unfolding from an other-worldly perspective. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Mark Stone December 9, 2018 Wandi, Hello. 1. I would put this poem in five quatrains, instead of one long stanza. That way, for me at least, it would be easier to read and easier to appreciate. 2. In the first stanza, if it said “blew away,” then I think that “had danced” would be appropriate. But since it says “blow away” (i.e., present tense), I think it should be “danced” or “have danced.” Also, “then shortened” sounds a tiny bit awkward. Here is one possibility: As autumn breezes blow away The warmth of summer’s sun, Diminished is the light of day Since when we danced as one. 3. I would find a way to make lines 6 and 8 have an exact rhyme. The easiest fix might be to change “rain” to “rains.” 4. I would find a way to make lines 13 & 15 have an exact rhyme. The easiest fix might be to change “stream” to “streams.” 5. Although I usually have reservations about inversions, my favorite line is: “Our tears met by the North wind freeze.” Beautiful. 6. I recommend ending line 18 with a period instead of a comma. 7. Just yesterday, on the radio, I heard Frank Sinatra singing “Autumn Leaves.” Nat King Cole also does an excellent version. The song was originally a French song. The English lyrics, which were written by Johnny Mercer, are as follows: The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold I see your lips, the summer kisses The sun-burned hands I used to hold Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall Your poem made me think of that song. Thank you. 8. Notwithstanding my suggestions, I think your poem is really, really good. It’s all there: meter, rhyme, mood, message, imagery, assonance, consonance, nuance and finesse. Very nicely done! Reply
Wandi Zhu December 9, 2018 Mr. Stone, Thank you very much for your suggestions and feedback . I really appreciate it. Reply
David Paul Behrens December 9, 2018 I love Johnny Mercer, who wrote a tremendous amount of song lyrics over a long span of time. He wrote ‘Old Man River’ in the nineteen thirties and then ‘Moon River’ in the sixties. Mr. Stone: Your are kind of a one man Siskel and Ebert of poetry. I am continually impressed by your frequently adept analysis and critiques of the poetry posted on this website and your ability to intricately dissect poems, breaking them down, line by line, word by word, syllable by syllable, comma by comma, apostrophe by apostrophe, with such thorough and systematic acumen. Are you basically just a poetry critic, a teacher, or are you also a poet? With your apparent superb ability to analyze, would it be possible to direct us to the superb poetry you have written? Reply
James A. Tweedie December 9, 2018 I share you appreciation of Mercer, but Ol’ Man River was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for Showboat in 1931. By the way, I share in the enthusiasm for this lovely poem and for all the reasons that have been previously articulated
David Paul Behrens December 10, 2018 Mr. Tweedie – There was a vague question in my mind about that song after I made that comment and I began to wonder if anyone might correct me. Thank you for doing so. I realized I may have been mistaken while watching 60 minutes and they showed a clip of Paul Robeson singing the song in Showboat.
Sally Cook December 9, 2018 Dear Wandi -= Your theme is lovely. It contains so many elements of dance. As both a poet and painter, I find that beauty expressed in all forms of art often crosses over from one discipline to another, and I see that you also know this. Very nice work, and thank you for it. . Reply
Damian Robin December 9, 2018 Thanks Wandi, your poem is elegiac and dance-like. Joe and Sally mention this dance element. It brings to mind old traditions of movement, sound, and meaning working well when performed. The title helps this thought come up. (Maybe you are considering going into choreography doing an audio of this poem.) In dance, props and costumes have an effect. The video https://www.shenyun.com/videos/latest-videos/play/zPSHviGOP_Y/wearing-our-traditions%E2%80%94costumes-through-the-eyes-of-shen-yun-dancers puts this simply. Mark, your suggestions are nicely considered. And it’s good to be reminded that pop songs can have a traditional feel. Reply
Damian Robin December 9, 2018 (Maybe you are considering going into choreography or doing an audio of this poem.) [sorry for typo] Reply
Martin Rizley December 9, 2018 The lovely imagery drawn from the change of seasons effectively creates a poignant mood of time’s passing, painful loss, along with the hope of renewal. Thanks for posting it. Reply
David December 10, 2018 Very nice imagery. It does make me think of some of the Chinese poetry I’ve read (in translation). The power of their imagery is great and very dense. I wrote something inspired by those readings, “Chinese Mountain Man.” https://www.thechainedmuse.com/single-post/2018/11/15/Chinese-Mountain-Man I look forward to seeing more of your stuff. Dave Reply
David Watt December 10, 2018 The well-wrought images of seasons in transition make this poem active from beginning to end, and therefore, satisfying to read. Reply
Shari Jo LeKane December 10, 2018 Dear Wandi Zhu, I like the allusion to the ‘Dryads’ Lament in your poem, expressing a feeling of loss a and hope for renewal in the midst of seasonal transition, which gives your poem a mystical quality as I envision the poetic narrative unfolding from an other-worldly perspective. Reply
