The Yellow River Descending from the Sky

Compared with Walking on a Cold Morning, The Yellow River Descending from the Sky is more dynamic, with waves piled high as mountains and the vigorous dotting that is one of Shitao’s stylistic hallmarks. His poem alludes to the Yellow River as a metaphor for a burst of creativity that he is experiencing. It is possible that the “red cinnabar” refers to his own seal affixed at the end of his inscription.
“The Yellow River comes down from the sky
to the rivers and the sea,
After ten thousand leagues pouring into my bosom.
In its midst is a sacred mountain up in the heavens,
With white clouds rolling amid layers of misty clouds.
At its gate huge valleys compete under the waterfalls.
Whose red cinnabar is on its very top?
I often stop my brush to look over it,
Much better than riding the heavenly horse in the sky.
The Master of the Great Cleaning Hall”