Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE POEMS OF COLD MOUNTAIN: 49 by HAN SHAN

First Line: THINGS ALL HAVE THEIR USES
Last Line: WILL NEVER MATCH A CRIPPLED CAT
Subject(s): CHINESE LITERATURE; USEFULLNESS;

Things all have their uses
and each use has its place
but if a use gets lost
it's absent and deficient too
a round hole and square handle
such things alas won't work
a racehorse used to catch a rat
will never match a crippled cat



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