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In this second verse the poet resolves his conundrum by introducing the poem—and thus the poet—as the catalyst that transforms the separate worlds of the plum and the snow into one world of beauty. Thus, the poet justifies his existence as well as his passion by his ability to perceive the spirit and the appearance of things without dividing one from the other, which is what a poem aims to do.

The Snow and the Plum—II

LU MEI-P’O

The plum without the snow isn’t very special

and snow without a poem is simply commonplace

at sunset when the poem is done then it snows again

together with the plum they complete the spring