I BREAK up cypress and make a book-box; The box well-made, -- and the cypress-wood tough. In it shall be kept what author's works? The inscription says PO LO-T'IEN. All my life has been spent in writing books, From when I was young till now that I am old. First and last, -- seventy whole volumes; Big and little, -- three thousand themes. Well I know in the end they'll be scattered and lost; But I cannot bear to see them thrown away, With my own hand I open and shut the locks, And put it carefully in front of the book-curtain. I am like Teng Pai-tao; But to-day there is not any Wang Ts'an. All I can do is to divide them among my daughters To be left by them to give to my grandchildren. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PATIENCE by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE BRIDAL BALLAD by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE FOUNTAIN by MUHAMMAD AL-MU'TAMID II ICED BRANCHES by KENNETH SLADE ALLING EPISTLE TO WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. .. BILL ABOLISHING SLAVE TRADE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD GROWTH by MILDRED TELFORD BARNWELL |