Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE EASTERN GATE, by ANONYMOUS First Line: I went out at the eastern gate Last Line: One cannot put things off Subject(s): China - Early Period (to 200 B.c.);grief; Sorrow;sadness | ||||||||
A poor man determines to go out into the world and make his fortune. His wife tries to detain him. I WENT out at the eastern gate: I never thought to return. But I came back to the gate with my heart full of sorrow. There was not a peck of rice in the bin: There was not a coat hanging on the pegs. So I took my sword and went towards the gate. My wife and child clutched at my coat and wept: "Some people want to be rich and grand: I only want to share my porridge with you. Above, we have the blue waves of the sky: Below, the yellow face of this little child." "Dear wife, I cannot stay. Soon it will be too late. When one is growing old One cannot put things off." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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