Personal Reflection

The reason I chose this poem was because I often try to retain elements of a simple life focused on the most important things.  Too often, I find myself cluttered with a variety of outside influences that continue to put strain and stress on my life. Whether it is school work, college preparation, or media, I can become overwhelmed and exhausted. However, when such a time comes to pass, I seek relief by thinking about the simple, most important things in life: family, friends, and happiness. I realize that the stress of everyday life is not what I must be focused on, but rather the things that I care for most. In this poem, Hsieh Ling-yun takes his cluttered life and shakes it off by visiting what he considers important to him. He finds his solace in the acres of natural beauty that he strolls through. Sometimes, we all need to take a stroll and remember the simple things in life. For me, it reminds me of what is most important.  In addition, I was attracted to the foreign origin of the poem, especially one by such a renowned, ancient poet from China.

                                                                                   -Robert Chun

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