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Rate this poem:5.0 / 6 votes

The Card Players (Paul Cézanne)
By William He

Two figures sit frozen in focus,
Like twin statues,
Carved from stillness there.
Their gazes lingering and heavy,
Like the gnarled roots of an old cypress,
Leaves brittle, branches tough.
The scattered cards on the table,
Fragile as dry butterflies,
Drift in the shadows, seeking.
Time folds into quiet spaces.
A faint scent of wine,
Glass reflects memories,
Faint echoes of days gone by.
Yet the wide-brimmed black hat
Cannot hide the heart’s unease even.

What is there to speak of gain or loss.
A thousand years cast in a single throw.
The chaos of primordial epochs fades,
Who recalls now.
Once we sowed the colors of spring,
Only to find no fortune
In the abundance of summer or the harvest of fall.
In the stillness,
So many narratives linger.
In the end, they transform
Into fragments, soft brushstrokes,
Old patterns revived once.
A sight worth painting,
Secretly astonishing a while.
Upon closer look,
Mystery swirls in frosted hues,
Tracing the old veins.

六丑 塞尚油画《玩牌者》
作者:何威廉

见凝神对坐,
似两座、
浮雕岑寂。
目光滞沉,
如盘根老柏,
叶燥枝涩。
桌上牌摊散,
脆如枯蝶,
泛暗流寻觅。
光阴摺叠成闲隙。
酒气微熏,
玻璃影恻,
依稀昔时痕迹。
奈宽檐帽黑,
难掩心怵。

何言得失。
算千年一掷。
亘古洪荒远,
谁记得。
曾经手播春色。
竟无缘面向,
夏繁秋实。
无声处、
几多回忆。
终化作、
片片濡毫渲染,
旧时纹脉。
真堪画,
暗自惊惑。
待细看、
秘幻涂霜彩,
兼盈悚惕。

About this poem

The Poem serves as a meditation on the themes of time, memory, existence, and the constant negotiation of gain and loss. Drawing on the legacy of Cézanne, The poem transcends mere imitation, entering the realm of philosophical inquiry about life’s deeper meanings. Just as Cézanne redefined the art of painting through his unique vision, so too does The poem redefine people engagement with poetry, urging us to seek the astonishing in the ordinary and embrace the layered complexities of our shared human experience.  

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Written on March 09, 2025

Submitted by chinamcc8 on March 08, 2025

Modified by chinamcc8 on March 12, 2025

1:12 min read
650 Views

William He

William Yu He graduated from two of the most prestigious law schools in China respectively, also studied in Heidelberg, Cambridge and Harvard. He has published dozens of classical poems and lyrics in Chinese language. As Cover Person, his ten classic-style Chinese poems have been included in a poetry anthology published by a famous publishing house in Hong Kong. Three of his poems were collected in the anthology “call my name and I 'll be there" published in February, 2024. He is know for five of his poems included in the anthology in English "Dancing on Moonbeams" published in USA in September, 2024. He already published his English poetry anthology "Eyes Wide Open: Poems by William He" in USA. more…

All William He poems | William He Books

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Discuss the poem The Card Players (Paul Cézanne) with the community...

12 Comments
  • twiztidsol69
    Words of the wise
    LikeReply13 hours ago
  • Benny11
    'A thousand years cast in a single throw.' Life is a gamble and you painted a picture so still, with complex understanding. Good one!
    LikeReply1 day ago
    • chinamcc8
      Thank you so much for taking the time to read my poem.
      LikeReply18 hours ago
  • PriscillaKing
    This ekphrastic poem makes me wish Ii had a clear visual memory of the painting. I don't.
    LikeReply3 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    To humorously paraphrase the Bard, William Shakespeare, and at the same time, salute your creativity (along with Paul Cézanne), I’ll say this: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women simply card players!” Thank you for this gem. 
    LikeReply3 days ago
    • chinamcc8
      Your support and interest inspire me to keep writing.
      LikeReply18 hours ago
  • Josephtopichjr
    Wow that was something just not sure what
    LikeReply3 days ago
    • chinamcc8
      Appreciate you reading my poem.
      LikeReply18 hours ago
  • Akinpet23
    Cool
    LikeReply3 days ago
  • abcDj
    They gazes linger, heavy,

    probably

    Their gazes linger, heavy,?
    LikeReply3 days ago
  • watson_haziee_25
    loved it
    LikeReply4 days ago
    • chinamcc8
      Thank you so much.
      LikeReply18 hours ago
  • ericadawndeanes
    Bold and new age
    LikeReply4 days ago
  • Josephtopichjr
    How does this work relate to your life experience
    LikeReply5 days ago
  • angieee
    this is so cool dude, keep going
    LikeReply5 days ago
  • StylesRobin
    Excellent philosophical musing on how perspectives the experience of poetry. It reminds me of the encounterance of the object in all arts. Keep writing!
    LikeReply6 days ago
    • chinamcc8
      Your thoughts and reflections are truly valued.
      LikeReply18 hours ago

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"Poetry.com" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Mar. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/>.

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