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Su Shih (1037–1101) was from Meishan in Szechuan province. Along with his father and younger brother, he was ranked among the eight greatest essayists of the T’ang and Sung dynasties. He was equally famous for his calligraphy and poetry and also served at the highest levels of government. But his opposition to the policies of Wang An-shih led to repeated banishments and even a brief imprisonment. Here, the East Wind represents the arrival of spring, and this harbinger of the season reminds Su of Yang Kuei-fei, concubine of Emperor Hsuan-tsung, who called her his “begonia.” On one occasion she got so drunk that she slept for two nights. Hence, Su hopes to see her garden incarnation before she retires. Su wrote this poem at the beginning of his banishment to Huangchou, down the Yangtze from Wuhan, at a garden known for its begonias.

Begonia

SU SHIH

The East Wind gently spreads her celestial glow

the moon slips behind her veil of perfumed mist

afraid this flower won’t stay up much longer

I light a tall candle to view her crimson face