Explore Chapter 19 of "牛天赐传" with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Tianci learned to compose poetry. In primary school, he had studied national language and literature, but he had never written poems. Since Old Niu's death, he felt that he ought to do something special to be worthy of his deceased father. He recalled Teacher Wang's remarks: apple blossoms, Mount Tai, trains... all these could be made into poetry. He began reading some old poems, things like "Bright moonlight before my bed," and thought them quite simple-just stringing words together to rhyme. So he started writing himself. His first poem was: "Dad's dead, I cry, Mom's old, needs help nearby, Sihu is my good pal, we're always in a fog." He thought it was very good and read it to Sihu. Sihu said, "What kind of talk is that? That's not poetry." Tianci retorted, "Why not? It rhymes, that's what Teacher said."
From then on, he became obsessed. He thought about poetry all day long, while walking and even while eating. He regarded the crabapple tree in the courtyard, the ants in the corner, and the clouds in the sky as poetic material. He wrote many poems and recorded them all in a small notebook. Old Mrs. Niu looked at them and only said, "What's this? Neglecting your proper work." But Tianci would not listen. He felt that composing poetry was the most enjoyable thing in the world, far better than going to school. He even dreamed of becoming a poet someday, traveling everywhere, viewing apple blossoms, and climbing Mount Tai.
Tiger Ye (Sihu) was worried to see him like this. He advised Tianci, "If you don't study hard, how will you earn a living in the future? Can poetry fill your belly?" Tianci said, "You don't understand. Poetry is the noblest thing." Tiger Ye sighed and said no more. He understood in his heart that this child Tianci's mind had already flown elsewhere, and could not be pulled back.