Zhang Kejiu Styled Xiaoshan, was born in Qingyuan (today's Yin county of Zhejiang Province). Unsuccessful in his official career, Zhang found his sustenance in traveling in mountains and rivers. He devoted all his literary efforts to the writing of Sanqu poetry and never cared to write plays. Therefore the extant works of Sanqu poetry of Zhang outnumber any other poets of the Yuan dynasty. His poems are mainly descriptions of landscape and expressions of his unrestrained sentiments in a fresh and exquisite style. Zhang also distinguishes himself in combining the techniques of Shi and Ci poetry in writing Sanqu poetry. He pays special attention to the diction, meter, and flavor of poetry, which has a strong influence on later poets.
张可久 字小山，庆元（今浙江鄞县）人。仕途不得志，放浪于山水间。专致力于散曲，不写杂剧，是作品传世数量最多的元散曲作家。作品内容多歌唱山水风景，书写放逸情怀，风格清新秀丽，善于熔铸诗词作法入曲，讲究词藻、格律、韵味，对后世影响很大。
Spring Night to the tune of Red Embroidered Shoes
红绣鞋·春夜
The return of swallows evokes my infatuation with wine,
燕子来时酒病，
Seeing peonies bloom I strengthen poetic feelings with brine.
牡丹开处诗情，
Evening clouds the courtyard when a rain comes and dies.
庭院黄昏雨初晴。
This mirror-like heart is the moon hanging in the skies,
镜心闲挂月，
These zither-playing fingers seem to break pieces of ice,
筝手碎弹冰，
Wine cup in hand, I feel spring night is longer twice.
樽前春夜永。