Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE COCK-FIGHT, by TS'AO CHIH First Line: Our wandering eyes are sated with the dancer's skill Last Line: "then I shall not leave without winning the match!" Alternate Author Name(s): Tzu-chien Subject(s): China - Middle Ages (600 B.c.- 618 A.d.); Cock-fighting | ||||||||
OUR wandering eyes are sated with the dancer's skill, Our ears are weary with the sound of "kung" and "shang." Our host is silent and sits doing nothing: All the guests go on to places of amusement. On long benches the sportsmen sit ranged Round a cleared room, watching the fighting-cocks. The gallant birds are all in battle-trim: They raise their tails and flap defiantly. Their beating wings stir the calm air: Their angry eyes gleam with a red light. Where their beaks have struck, the fine feathers are scattered: With their strong talons they wound again and again. Their long cries enter the blue clouds; Their flapping wings tirelessly beat and throb. "Pray God the lamp-oil lasts a little longer, Then I shall not leave without winning the match!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COMBAT OF THE COCKS by THOMAS RANDOLPH WORDS INTO WORDS WON'T GO by CLARENCE MAJOR CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMASSE EVE by ROBERT HERRICK THE DAY-DREAM: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY by ALFRED TENNYSON THE MIST AND ALL by DIXIE WILLSON TO HASEKAWA by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG PSALM 50 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE WHO WON THE DAY by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH TO HIS EXCELLENCY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES CHRISTMAS GIFTS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THREE EPISTLES TO G. LLOYD ON A PASSAGE FROM HOMER'S ILIAD: 2 by JOHN BYROM |
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