We Cannot Tolerate the U.S. Invasion of the Sino-Korean Border and Stand Idly By[I]
(October 1950)

If the United States dares to unleash a world war at this moment, its defeat will be even more thorough, because its military preparations are not yet complete, while the forces of the peace camp are greater than those of the U.S. and Britain. We want peace, not war, but we cannot tolerate the U.S. invasion of the Sino-Korean border and stand idly by.

[I] This is a passage added by Mao Zedong to a draft directive of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on current propaganda work.

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Sand of Silk-Washing Stream[1] — In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi
(October 1950)

At the National Day theatre performance in 1950, Mr. Liu Yazi improvised a poem to the tune of "Sand of Silk-Washing Stream." I here follow his rhyme scheme in reply.

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Long night dimmed the Red Land[2] under darkened skies,
For a hundred years demons whirled in mad dance[3],
The five hundred million people were torn apart.
At the cock's crow the world turns bright as day[4],
Music from every corner[5] rises with melodies of Yutian[6],
The poet's inspiration[7] soars beyond all precedent.

[1] Sand of Silk-Washing Stream, a tune title, originally a song title from the Tang Dynasty's Imperial Music Academy.
[2] Red Land, during the Warring States period, China was called the Red Land Divine Continent.
[3] Whirled in mad dance, a description of light, swirling dance movements.
[4] At the cock's crow the world turns bright as day, from Li He's "Drinking Song": "At the cock's one crow, the world turns bright."
[5] Every corner, the ancients referred to states and tribes as "corners"; the "Book of Changes" mentions "the Gui corner."
[6] Yutian, a state in the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty, located in present-day Xinjiang.
[7] Inspiration, interest, enthusiasm.

Appendix: Liu Yazi's Original Poem
Fiery trees, silver flowers, a night that knows no bounds,
Brothers and sisters dance in graceful whirls,
Songs resound clear beneath the full moon's round.[1]
Were it not for the leadership of one man,
How could all nations gather in such proud assembly?[2]
This splendid night, this joyous gathering, surpasses all before.

1950, Mao Zedong with Zhu De, Liu Yazi, and Yu Xinqing in Beijing.
[1] A folk song and dance of the Kazakh people of Xinjiang includes a song titled "Full Moon."
[2] Proud assembly, a gathering, a congregation.

Sand of Silk-Washing Stream — In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi
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Mao Zedong's Collected Works, Volume 29
[Image: Mao Zedong's handwritten copy of Liu Yazi's poem and "Sand of Silk-Washing Stream — In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi."]
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Reference Image
"At the Cock's Crow the World Turns Bright as Day" (poetic illustration)
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Mao Zedong's Collected Works, Volume 29
[Image: "Music from Every Corner Rises with Melodies of Yutian" (poetic illustration)]
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Reference Image
[Image: "The Poet's Inspiration Soars Beyond All Precedent" (poetic illustration)]
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