Boundless grasses over the plain
Come and go with every season;
Wildfire never quite consumes them --
They are tall once more in the spring wind.
Sweet they press on the old high- road
And reach the crumbling city-gate....
O Prince of Friends, you are gone again....
I hear them sighing after you.

Analysis (ai): The poem presents grasses as resilient, enduring through changing seasons and adversity. Despite the ravages of wildfire, they rejuvenate in the spring, persisting and thriving. This imagery suggests the cyclical nature of life and renewal, implying that even in the face of loss or hardship, there is hope and the possibility of rebirth.

Compared to the author's other works, this poem stands out for its simplicity and directness, yet it conveys a profound message about the eternal nature and resilience of life. Set against the vastness of nature, the human experience of loss and remembrance is given a broader perspective.

The poem reflects the sensibilities of the Tang dynasty, a time of cultural and literary flourishing in China. It aligns with the era's focus on themes of transience and the natural world, as well as the pursuit of harmony and balance between humanity and nature.