“Approaching the Start of Civil Exams Perhaps I was once a young Chinese scholar approaching the start of civil exams, my mind grown weary and sad from seclusion with books on syntax and poetic style. All that I knew were the mist-covered mountains and sweet white blossoms of mountain apples that grew in the valleys of my province. But I had been gone over six years busy with studies in the Heavenly City empty and thin despite my work. I showed my verses to an older poet who told me a truth I longed to believe: all knowledge is futile and barren which does not open the love of your friends.” LoveTruthFriendshipWorkKnowledgeStyleBooksPoetSweetSadBusyChinesePoeticScholarVersesWearyMountainsMistBarrenSyntaxSeclusionFutileBlossoms Author:Jim Chapson