Poems

Mao Zedong (1893–1976), 1st Chairman of the Communist Party of China & leader of the People's Republic of China for nearly 30 years, wrote poetry, starting in the 1920s, during the Red Army's epic retreat during the Long March of 1934-36 & after coming to power in 1949. Mao's poems are in the classical Chinese verse style, rather than the newer Modern Chinese poetry style. Tho Mao may not be one of the best Chinese poets, his poems are generally considered well-written & of high literary quality. As did most Chinese intellectuals of his generation, Mao received rigorous education in Chinese classical literature. Thus his skill in poetry is of little surprise. His style was deeply influenced by the "Three Lis" of the Tang Dynasty: poets Li Bai, Li Shangyin & Li He. He's considered to be a romantic poet, in contrast to the realist poets represented by Du Fu. Many of Mao's poems are frequently quoted in popular culture, literature & daily conversations. Some of well-known poems are "Changsha" (1925), "The Double Ninth" (1929.10), "Loushan Pass" (1935), "The Long March" (1935), "Snow" (1936.02), "The PLA Captures Nanjing" (1949.04), "Reply to Li Shuyi" (1957.05.11) & "Ode to the Plum Blossom" (1961.12).