In youth I didn't know the taste of sorrow - I loved climbing the high tower, loved climbing the tower, forcing sorrow into my verse just to write a new one.
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From Xin Qiji's 丑奴儿·书博山道中壁 (Southern Song): 少年不识愁滋味，爱上层楼。爱上层楼，为赋新词强说愁。而今识尽愁滋味，欲说还休。欲说还休，却道天凉好个秋。 A wry meditation on youth's performative sorrow versus mature grief that can only say 'what a cool autumn.'
usage
强 here is qiǎng (to force), not qiáng (strong). The phrase now mocks any affected, performative sadness - especially in teenage writing.
