In Answer to Mr. Xia Mo’an[88] (1917)

Birds chirp and chirp on the poplar’s green branches— Is spring coming or is spring
going?
Frogs croak and croak in the green grassy pond—
Is this public or is this private?[89]

--- Notes

[88] Xia Mo’an was from Anhua county, Hunan, where he was head of the Education Commission. In
the autumn of 1917, while on a study tour investigating conditions in the countryside there, Mao and
Xiao Zisheng went to call on him. Xia was reluctant to receive them at first, but changed his attitude
after observing the sincerity and unusual manner of the visitors. This couplet is the result of Xia’s
challenging Mao to “answer” or “match” the first line of his own composition.

[89] Here Mao is throwing a barb at his host for his conceited attitude by referring to a story about
Emperor Hui of the Jin, a figure known for his ignorance and stupidity. Strolling through the gardens
on the outskirts of Luoyang shortly after the beginning of the summer rains, the Emperor heard frogs
croaking. He asked his attendants: “Is this call in an official capacity or a private capacity?”