Commentary on Zhang Guangkui’s “The Healer’s Flame”

Abstract

Zhang Guangkui's poem “The Healer’s Flame” praises Dr. Chen Qiaolian for her exceptional medical skills and kindness, using a typical English sonnet form with the rhyme scheme “ababcdcdefefgg” and iambic pentameter. Structured logically, its first three stanzas build up: the first emphasizes physical healing, the second shows psychological effects, and the third highlights her professional passion and selfless care. The final two lines, the climax, express love, respect, and gratitude via “Dear Chen”. Vivid images—“a beacon” (symbolizing the doctor) and “the darkest storm” (metaphorizing illness)—enhance the effect. Choosing the classical sonnet form links to Renaissance humanism, as the doctor’s care embodies such spirit, creating a form-content resonance to convey sincere praise.