Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SENNIN POEM BY KAKUHAKU, by EZRA POUND


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SENNIN POEM BY KAKUHAKU, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The red and green kingfishers
Last Line: Can you even tell the age of a turtle?


The red and green kingfishers
flash between the orchids and clover,
One bird casts its gleam on another.

Green vines hang through the high forest,
They weave a whole roof to the mountain,
The lone man sits with shut speech,
He purrs and pats the clear strings.
He throws his heart up through the sky,
He bites through the flower pistil
and brings up a fine fountain.
The red-pine-tree god looks at him and wonders.
He rides through the purple smoke to visit the sennin,
He takes "Floating Hill" by the sleeve,
He claps his hand on the back of the great water sennin.

But you, you dam'd crowd of gnats,
Can you even tell the age of a turtle?





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