Poetry and the art of general mechanics

"When I read poems I can escape from things that I don't like in everyday life and find peace of mind."

Some poems and poets have inspired her in many ways, she says.

As a student she spends most of her time in the laboratory and finds the time for reading poetry is limited.

She has made the most of the internet to help her learn more about poetry and poets' lives and usually re-creates stories and scenes in her mind to help memorize poems.

Her passion for poetry seeps through into many parts of her life, and she even has folders in her computer named with favorite lines from poems.

"The names all have some kind of indication about what the folders contain. It helps me to remember the poems too."

She even tends to associate daily happenings with poetry she is familiar with, she says.

Chen says she usually jots down notes and writes down her feelings after reading poems, and a publishing house has expressed interest in publish her literary notes.

The benefits of the fame that Rendezvous With Chinese Poetry has given her extend beyond the world of poetry, she says, for example being offered the chance to record online classes for educational establishments and making commercials.

However, she has turned down most except a couple of charitable cultural activities so she can focus on her study.

"I am working harder than I was before I did the TV shows because I feel I have something to prove: that doing those has not upset the rhythm of my life."

Through poetry she simply wants to enrich herself mentally and spiritually rather than materially, she says.

Some people may feel they have no connection with poetry, but that is no reason why others should miss out on the treasures it holds, she says.

"I reckon everyone should try at least to read about poetry to work out if it does anything for them."

TV cultural programs are another way people can determine whether there is something in poetry for them, she says.