Poetry Should Rhyme
(December 1939)

Your letter and practice writings have all been received. I apologize for the delay in replying. Your efforts are very good and very correct. The outstanding aspects of a nation are, by and large, the collective creations of the masses over thousands of years. Among the many, there are bound to be some good ones. Poetry should rhyme; unrhymed poetry is difficult to circulate widely. The War of Resistance is the great commonality, while differences in form and style are minor variations. Where there is great commonality with minor variations, all should be accommodated and embraced.

[1] In December 1939, the poet Liu Yu wrote to Mao Zedong, saying: "The 'Chinese style and Chinese manner beloved by the Chinese common people,' which you advocated at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee, was put forward in the context of the study and dissemination of Marxism-Leninism. However, I feel that it is also entirely applicable to literary and artistic creation. It is precisely based on this understanding that I have been experimenting in my poetry writing. I wonder whether my views and practices are appropriate." To help Mao Zedong better understand the situation, Liu Yu also sent him the poems he had written at the time. This is the main content of Mao Zedong's reply to Liu Yu.