To the Literary Group "Lu She" of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts

(January 21, 1939)

Comrades of the Standing Committee of Lu She:

I have received your letter, and I thank you for your kind sentiments.

I have already agreed to attend another gathering on February 4 and cannot come to your place; please forgive me. You have asked my opinion on poetry. I am a layman and cannot offer any systematic views, except for one point: in any branch of literature and art, including poetry, what our Party considers good should be that which suits the needs of the masses. Among the things produced now, many have a defect—they do not reflect the life of the people, and therefore the people cannot understand them. The saying that we must suit the needs of the people is a commonplace, but this commonplace is seldom put into practice, and I believe this is a shortcoming at present. Whether this point is worth considering, I ask you to deliberate upon it. This is my reply.

With respectful wishes for your
Diligent efforts!

Mao Zedong
January 21