Tuesday 8 December 2015

Tuesday Poem: "Untitled" by Li Shangyin



The east wind sighs, the fine rains come:
Beyond the pool of water-lilies, the noise of faint thunder.
A gold toad gnaws the lock. Open it, burn the incense.
A tiger of jade pulls the rope. Draw from the well and escape.
Chia's daughter peeped through the screen when Han the clerk was young,
The goddess of the River left her pillow for the great Prince of Wei.
Never let your heart open with the spring flowers:
One inch of love is an inch of ashes.

by Li Shangyin


Li Shangyin.jpg
Sorry, no photographs are available as Li Shangyin shunned the limelight and also he was born before the invention of the camera.


For more about the poet, Li Shangyin, see:

1 comment:

  1. How wonderful to still be read after so much time. Thanks for this.

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