Chinese Poet LI Bos Poetry - Essay Example

The poems exhibit his carefree attitude towards life, yet there demonstrates concern for the various social issues that his country had faced during his time. Just as modern literature these days goes beyond the conventional subjects that conservative poets write about, Li Bo made sure he stands out from the rest of them by displaying his creativity that is governed not by society’s rules, but that his own. He did not allow other people and what they believe should be the norms of society to affect the subjects he wished to write about. Furthermore, he made sure his poetry was written the way he thought it should be written then.

In The Sun Rises and Sets, Li Bo demonstrates how acceptance of how things occur naturally is the key to living a life that is void of disappointments and anger. It is rather enthralling how he could make such a comparison of nature and the gods and goddesses during his time to the way people should live their lives as well. Unlike his other poems that are written with several verses, this was made only with two that say embracing life as they happen every day may be risky yet the most exciting. The Confucian belief with which Li Bo had grown and lived, this attitude was considered taboo. On the other hand, this could have been the reason as well that he had written about such an issue. Li Bo simply wanted to compare how the other creatures of nature live peacefully day by day without going against the occurrences that they should go through as they are shaped and strengthened by them. Initially, after reading this first poem, had it not been written in the introduction that this was classic literature, there is no doubt this could be identified to be one of the modern literature of this era.
Without setting any limits as to the themes his poems talk about, he writes about battles and weapons that according to him were but “evil’s tools” that are used by the weak. It is clear though that he is against war and the use of any weapons that kill people. Li Bo chose not to be a part of this revolution as he would rather make himself engaged in poetry as his tool to demoralize his enemies and fight against them. This, on the other hand, does not mean that he was a coward, but rather that facing the enemy without the use of force was the bravest thing a leader could do and offer his men. Hostility brings only pain and sorrow, instead of peace and harmony.
Li Bo’s poems exude severe honesty not only did he talk about nature and society, but he made himself the subject of his poetry as well. He did not leave any of his thoughts unturned as he exposed even what others may have thought were not appropriate subjects of poetry. His fondness for drinking and solitude were but personal issues he had written about in his poems. However, only Li Bo could talk about subject matters like this in poetry which made readers enjoy reading and love him instead of forsaking him for his insobriety. Bring in the Wine and Drinking Alone with the Moon talks about his issues with drinking. It appears that Li Bo did not mind running out of money and giving up wealth so long as he could make himself drunk. Unlike other poets in his era, no one would dare expose his weakness in alcoholism, probably for the fear of being mocked and cast off in society. This, undoubtedly, did not bother Li Bo for he even talked about how he could enjoy getting drunk even without other people who would join him as he drowns himself in drunkenness.
Friendship and farewells are also included among the many facets of life that Li Bo’s poetry used as a subject. Although traditional and modern poets fancy these common social issues, Li Bo shared his own in a slightly different way, though a bit more disturbing to the reader. There were several names of friends mentioned in some of his poems, yet theirs did not go deeper than being drinking buddies and acquaintances. There were, as a matter of fact, more poems, especially the short ones that denote his seclusion. Drinking Alone with the Moon rather shows how solitary his life had been. Other poems that confirm this loneliness are The Hardships of Traveling Alone, In the Quiet Night, and Sitting alone by Jingting Mountain. Could it be because no one would accept him for his love of wine and insobriety? Or could it be that he chooses to be left alone? Read More