The poem written by the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) poet Chen Dewu depicts the splendid beauty of the West Lake while highlighting the dissipation of heroes and ambitions in the indulgence of a life of leisure and revelry. The poem laments the ever-changing times and the shifting landscapes in hopes of divine intervention to transform West Lake into a place of agricultural prosperity for the people. It also expresses a determination to utilize heroic talents to reverse the tide, seek revenge, and restore the country's former glory in terms of both territory and honor.