Status Updates From A Hundred And Seventy Chine...

"Separation" is a relatively sweet, simple poem about the poet being depressed about being exiled and freeing a caught wild goose after seeing its own condition reflect his own state.

Pu chu-i/Bai Juyi's poems are a bit varied, some of which I have difficulty relating to but his poems on feeling homesick or sad about a friend after having to leave for the sake of work is relatable

Families, when a child is born
"Want it to be intelligent.
I, through intelligence,
Having wrecked my whole life,
Only hope the baby will prove
Ignorant and stupid.
Then he will crown a tranquil life
By becoming a Cabinet Minister"

A perennial complaint of politicians being incompetent

The introduction feels abit dated when he proclaims that the Chinese have had no grand stories or strange tales to tell, and he seems to think that the Chinese were just these calm, enlightenment rationalists with no inclination to mysticism at all.