After my few ci poems were published, commentators swarmed, all with good intentions. Some said it right, some said it not right. I have the responsibility to explain. In 1958 in Guangzhou, seeing the 1958 published edition, the top margin was very wide, therefore, I wrote the following few words, to thank the commentators and also to thank the readers. Lu Xun in 1927 in Guangzhou, when revising the postscript to his *Guxiaoshuo Gouchen*, said: "At that time the sea of clouds was heavy and sinking, the stars and moon were clear and blue, gluttonous mosquitoes showed their strength, in Guangzhou." From that time to today, thirty-one years have passed, the mosquitoes on the mainland have been almost wiped out. Of course the revolution is not yet fully complete, comrades must still exert themselves. In the Hong Kong and Taiwan areas, gluttonous mosquitoes are still many; in the Western world, gluttonous mosquitoes form arrays. If only we could get the millions upon millions of Foolish Old Men of all the world's peoples to use their own mountain-moving methods to sweep the mosquito arrays clean away, would that not be great!

I shall try to imitate Lu Fangweng and say:

Humanity today ascends to outer space,
But sadly I see not the five continents as one.
On the day the Foolish Old Men sweep clean the gluttonous mosquitoes,
At the public memorial, do not forget to inform Old Man Ma.

Mao Zedong, ten o'clock in the morning, December 21, 1958

Qinyuanchun. Changsha

1925

Striking the water: (To midstream we struck the water, the waves checked the speeding boats)

Swimming, I was then a beginner. In the height of summer the water rose, I nearly died several times. A group of people finally persisted until the depth of winter, still in the water. At that time there was an essay, I have forgotten it. I only remember two lines: "Confident that in life there are two hundred years, I will strike the water for three thousand li."

Pusaman. Yellow Crane Tower

1927

Tide of my heart: (Raising my wine I toast the surging torrent, the tide of my heart follows the waves and rises high)

In 1927, on the eve of the failure of the Great Revolution, my mood was desolate, for a time I did not know what to do. This was in the spring of that year. In the summer, on August 7, the Party's emergency meeting decided on armed struggle. Only from then on was a way out found.

Qingpingyue. Huichang

Summer 1934

Treading all over the green mountains, one is not yet old: (Treading all over the green mountains, one is not yet old, the scenery here is uniquely good.)

In 1934 the situation was critical. We were preparing for the Long March, and my mood was again one of melancholy. This Qingpingyue, like the previous Pusaman, expresses the same mood.

Yiqin'e. Loushan Pass

1935

The Long March of ten thousand li, with a thousand twists and a hundred turns. Victories were fewer than difficulties by I don't know how many times. The mood was one of deep gloom. After crossing the Min Mountains, it suddenly opened up, turning to the opposite, "the shade of willows, the brightness of flowers, another village ahead." The following few poems reflect this mood.

Seven-character-lüshi. The Long March
October 1935

Water lapping: (The Golden Sand's waters lapped the warm cloud-faced cliffs, the Great Ferry's bridge hung cold with iron chains)

Changed to "water lapping," this was a suggestion from a friend I do not know. He said: it is fine not to have two characters for "wave" in one piece.

Three Armies: (More joyous the thousand li of snow on the Min Mountains, after the Three Armies passed, every face was smiling.)

The First Front Army, Second Front Army, and Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. Not the land, sea, and air three services, nor the so-called Upper Army, Middle Army, and Lower Army of the ancient state of Jin.

Niannujiao. Kunlun

October 1935

The main theme is opposing imperialism, not anything else. The latter line: "one piece I would leave for China" is changed to "one piece I would return to the Eastern Country." It is wrong to forget the Japanese people. This way, Britain, America, and Japan are all involved. Other explanations do not fit the reality.

Qingpingyue. Liupan Mountains

October 1935

Gray dragon: (Today the long tassel is in our hands, when shall we bind the gray dragon?) Refers to Jiang Jieshi. Not the Japanese. Because at that time all energy had to be directed at dealing with Jiang, not Japan.

Qinyuanchun. Snow

February 1936

Opposing feudalism, criticizing a reactionary aspect of two thousand years of feudalism.

Literary grace, romantic spirit, great eagle, can only be so. One must know this is writing poetry, how could one curse these people? Other explanations are erroneous.

The last three lines refer to the proletariat.

Seven-character-lüshi. In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi

April 29, 1949

Thirty-one years: (After thirty-one years I return to the old capital, in the season of falling flowers you favor me with a fine poem)

Left Beijing in 1919. Returned to Beijing in 1949. The guo in jiu guo: capital city. Not Ltoho (state). Nor Country (capital).

Huanxisha. In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi

October 1950

Music plays: (Music plays from all directions, including from Yutian) Here it was mistakenly placed as "plays music." It should be changed. (The current edition has been changed.)

Shuidiaogetou. Swimming

June 1956

Changsha water: (I have just drunk the waters of Changsha) A folk rhyme says: "Changde's mountains all have de, Changsha's waters have no sha." The so-called Changsha water is east of Changde. There is a famous "White Sand Well."

Wuchang fish: (And eaten Wuchang fish)

During the Three Kingdoms, Sun Quan once moved the capital from Jingkou (Zhenjiang) to Wuchang. The bureaucrats, gentry, landlords, and wealthy classes were displeased and opposed the move. They created a slogan saying: "Better to drink Yangzhou (Jianye) water, than to eat Wuchang fish." The people of Yangzhou at that time felt this way. Now it has changed. Wuchang fish is quite flavorful.