The headline poet of "Rain Flower" in April 2022 was Zhao Cedar, and "Rain Flower" published 10 poems by Zhao Cedar under the title of "In the Woods". This Zhao Xuesong is also a "famous poet", and it can be seen from his introduction that he has published many poetry collections and won many awards.
The image comes from China Poetry Network
After reading these 10 poems by Zhao Xuesong (thanks to the China Poetry Network, you can read the poems of the headline poets in major publications in a timely manner), giving people the feeling that the poets are now "Buddhist". Since "Rain Flower" is titled "In the Woods", let's take a look at this song "In the Woods".
The image comes from China Poetry Network
The poem expresses a state of "forgetting myself", walking in the woods, "I have lost my name", "I don't want to be a pillar", the best way to live is to "take the heart" and then "return home like a bird with wings". Or rather, it is a state of "no desire and no desire", like all natural things, to go with nature.
In Zhao Xuesong's other poems, we can always see such a point of view. Some are even obvious, which is the embodiment of the "Buddhist system", such as "Xiao Shami" in "Anning City", "Asceticism" in "Yellow River", "Dust and Dirt" in "After the Rain" and so on.
Zhao Xuesong (image from the Internet)
Coincidentally, in April 2022, Ye Deqing, the headline poet of "Mountain Flower", wrote poems that also have this "Buddhist" characteristic. For example, his "Impermanence", the title of the poem is very "Buddhist". Among them, "flesh", "shaving", "monk", "cloud tour", etc., are all common words in the "Buddhist system".
The image comes from China Poetry Network
Is this just a coincidence? I'm afraid it's not that simple. "Mountain Flower" and "Rain Flower", although they both have flowers, but one for the mountain and one for the rain, is still different. But why are the poems of their April headline poets so "Buddhist"? Perhaps, it is because poets nowadays like "Buddhism".
Writing some of these poems looks "natural", very "calm", and a little "philosophical". Therefore, as long as you write this kind of poetry, it often makes people feel that there is "poetry" and the intention is good. As long as you put together some still life, describe the mood, and add some "Buddhist" words, it will give people a feeling of "long-term artistic conception".
The image comes from China Poetry Network
To tell the truth, I first read Ye Deqing's poems, I think he wrote well, and also wrote an article to exaggerate, but it is a bit "decadent" feeling. Reading Zhao Xuesong's poems again, or this tune, I feel a little bored. Writing such poems has become a routine, and the number of times it is more, it is a bit like an old monk, nagging endlessly.
Are the poets really "Buddhist" now? I don't think so. If they were really "Buddhist", would they still publish so many poetry collections? Will you still go and fight for so many awards? Will you still publish so many works? Therefore, they actually do not have a "Buddhist system", this is just their trick to writing poetry. They wrote "Buddhist" poems, but they competed to get various "names".
Zhao Xuesong (image from the Internet)
Such poems are indeed very "deceptive" and read very much like poetry. But if you think about it carefully, you are persuading people to "lie flat.". Although "lying flat" is also a way of life, it is obviously the least active way of life and is not worth advocating. If poets write such poems, it is better to listen to the monks chant thoroughly.
This kind of Buddhist poetry looks more elegant than the and urine body on the surface, but its essence is the same, and it is nothing. Therefore, writing such a poem is also "writing poetry for the sake of writing poetry." This reflects a common problem among poets now, that is, "floating", not grounded, and too far away from real life.