Xu Zaisi styled Deke, Xu was born in Jiaxing (belonging to today's Zhejiang). As he likes eating sugar, he chose "Tianzhai" (Study of Sweetness) as his literary name. Xu was paralleled with Guan Yunshi for the polish of his Sanqu poetry, with 103 short lyrics attributed to him, most of which depict natural beauty and the life of women. Employing skillfully the techniques similar to line-drawing in Chinese painting and ingenious parallel couplets, Xu achieves an effect of concision. He also makes good use of colloquialisms and folk songs. His style is either minute and deep, lyrical and elegant, or deep and heroic when speculations on history are concerned.
徐再思 字德可，嘉兴（今属浙江）人。好吃甘怡，因自号甜斋。工散曲，与贯云石（号酸斋）齐名。现存小令一百零三首，多描写自然风光和闺阁之情，擅用白描手法，字句凝练，对仗工巧，善用俗谣俚曲，曲辞清丽，抒情细腻深切，风格秀雅。一些怀古之作，寓意深远，格调悲壮。
A Stroll along the River to the tune of Person Leaning on the Railing
凭阑人·江行
Countless benches along the bank with gulls and herons abound.
鸥鹭江皋千万湾，
Here and there nestle houses where chickens and dogs are found.
鸡犬人家三四间。
The adverse current accompanies beach after beach,
逆流滩上滩，
Riotous clouds mountains beyong mountains bleach.
乱云山外山。