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。
Stirring Love in the Bower to the tune of Paying Homage to a Sovereign
朝天子·闺情
With whom now
与谁，
He's flirt and bow?
画眉，
How hard it is to guess his secret course.
猜破风流谜。
Suddenly there comes the neighing of his horse,
铜驼巷里玉骢嘶，
He returns at last at midnight drunk.
夜半归来醉。
Briefly he cleans himself, this skunk,
小意收拾，
And tries to show me his tenderness true.
怪胆禁持，
"What a shame," I say, "Off with you!"
不识羞谁似你。
He holds his tongue,
自知，
And knows he is wrong,
理亏，
Sleeping without putting off his gown.
灯下和衣睡。