Du Fu (Wade-Giles: Tu Fu, 712-770) was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Along with Li Bai (Li Po), he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His own greatest ambition was to help his country by becoming a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations. His life, like the whole country, was devastated by the An Lushan Rebellion of 755, and the last 15 years of his life were a time of almost constant unrest.

Here is a poem sow storm, whichi is a vivid resembling of his life:

Tumult, weeping, many new ghost.

Heartbroken, aging, alone, I sing

To myself. Ragged mist settles

In the spreading dusk. Snow skurries

In the coiling wind. The wineglass

Is spilled. The bottle is empty.

The fire has gone out in the stove.

Everywhere men speak in whispers.

I brood on the uselessness of letters.