Amanda Nigh, age 16, of Akron, Ohio, for her question:

WHO WAS LI FO?

One of the greatest of all Chinese poets was LI PO, who lived from 701 until 762. Here's how you pronounce his name: Lee Bow. When he was 19 years old he left his home in the province of Szechwan and lived for a time with a Taoist hermit. .

Li Po married and settled with his wife's family near Hankow. He moved to the capital city in the •40s and hoped for a position at court. After a two year wait, he tired and left to continue his travels and Taoist studies.

He was imprisoned briefly in 757 for supposedly supporting one of the emperors sons in trying to overthrow the government. The following summer he was banished to a distant province, but before reaching it he was pardoned.

LI Po wrote poems of brilliant fantasies and accounts of his many friendships. Some of his best works concern love. He used beautiful images and elaborate language to praise the carefree life.