Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE POEMS OF PICKUP: 9, by HAN SHAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POEMS OF PICKUP: 9, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Worldly people make me sigh
Last Line: Wearing a new set of clothes
Alternate Author Name(s): Kanzan; Hanshan; Han-shan
Subject(s): Buddhism; Chinese Literature; Food & Eating; Buddha; Buddhists


Worldly people make me sigh
everyone craves meat
their plates and bowls are never dry
they always ask for more
they give a meatless feast one day
then kill pigs and sheep the next
they're led by their karma
never by their hearts
for every deed they do for Heaven
they do a hundred more for Hell
their whole family mourns
when Yama takes them away
and heats them in an oven
and washes them in a cauldron
until at last they emerge
wearing a new set of clothes





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