From the darkness of the mine shafts to finding a bright outlet for self-expression through poetry, this talk not only reflects the asymmetry of life and the paradox of a poet's fate, but is also a profound meditation on existence, a continuous clarification of his own soul, and a vivid manifestation of the indomitable power of the human spirit. Time flows like water, fierce and mighty. So too is poetry, for the poet, it leaves upon the earth a double etching, a duality of scars and cleansing. Nianxi Chen, a contemporary writer and poet, has published two poetry collections and four essays, with some of his works translated into English and French. His representative works include "Records of Explosion", "To Live is to Shout to the Sky", "The ground is white with frost", and "The Poems of Chen Nianxi." At the age of 29, he began working in blasting at mining sites thousands of meters underground, a job he continued until 2015 when he returned home due to illness. His works are simple yet powerful, vast and profound, establishing him as a writer and poet with a highly distinctive style. He has been invited to participate in the recording of programs like "The Reader," offering strength and inspiration to countless ordinary people striving to live their lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx