Stories in poetry

A Light Boat Leaves the Gorge

Ku Wuji · AI Writing · Social Life in an Ancient Setting · Complete · 1 chapter · 8 reads

After twenty-six years hauling boats by towrope, Shen Niang finally pays her fare and takes a seat in the cabin, yet barely has the boat left shore when she instinctively steps toward the bank. Her daughter Ye Zhi arranges a soft quilt beneath her, hoping they will reach Jiangling before sunset and secure a better assignment for the season at the dye works. Along the way, the boatman loads another shipment of wine, the boat scrapes against a sand spit, and a long towrope is once again thrown at Shen Niang’s feet, as though she had never bought that ticket.

This work was created by AI, inspired by the poetic imagery of Li Bai’s 《早发白帝城》 (Departing Baidi City at Dawn). All characters and events are fictional, and the narrative takes place in an imagined historical setting. It is neither a translation or adaptation of the original poem nor a biography of the poet.