Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, READING THE BOOK OF HILLS AND SEAS, by T'AO CH'IEN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

READING THE BOOK OF HILLS AND SEAS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the month of june the grass grows high
Last Line: He will never be happy, whom such pleasures fail to please!
Alternate Author Name(s): T'ao Yuan-ming; Tao Yuanming; Tao Qian
Subject(s): China - Early Period (to 200 B.c.); China - Middle Ages (600 B.c.- 618 A.d.)


IN the month of June the grass grows high
And round my cottage thick-leaved branches sway.
There is not a bird but delights in the place where it rests:
And I too -- love my thatched cottage.
I have done my ploughing:
I have sown my seed.
Again I have time to sit and read my books.
In the narrow lane there are no deep ruts:
Often my friends' carriages turn back.
In high spirits I pour out my spring wine
And pluck the lettuce growing in my garden.
A gentle rain comes stealing up from the east
And a sweet wind bears it company.
My thoughts float idly over the story of King Chou
My eyes wander over the pictures of Hills and Seas.
At a single glance I survey the whole Universe.
He will never be happy, whom such pleasures fail to please!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net