In iron armor with long halberd, even in death unyielding;
Piled on the plate, a feast for eager eyes.
The claws seal tender jade in matched abundance;
The rounded shell holds fragrant blocks of crimson fat.
With so much flesh, I pity your eight legs more;
To aid the mood, who offers me a thousand cups?
With such fine fare to honor such a fine day—
Cassia swept by clear breeze, chrysanthemums touched with frost.
English titles, text, and notes are AI-assisted for reading only; for scholarship cite the Chinese and authoritative editions.
Annotation
Daiyu's crab poem leans more toward vivid description and whimsy compared to Baochai's satirical approach. 'Iron armor and long halberd' vividly depicts the crab's form. 'Who offers me a thousand cups?' expresses a carpe diem sentiment. The style is fresh and natural.
Keep exploring
Jump from this poem to the relationship graph, story timeline, or its chapter.
Found an error or have research suggestions? We welcome feedback →Go to research contact