OF cord and cassia-wood is the harp compounded: Within it lie ancient melodies. Ancient melodies -- weak and savourless, Not appealing to present men's taste. Light and colour are faded from the jade stops: Dust has covered the rose-red strings. Decay and ruin came to it long ago, But the sound that is left is still cold and clear. I do not refuse to play it, if you want me to: But even if I play, people will not listen. How did it come to be neglected so? Because of the Ch'iang flute and the Ch'in flageolet. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG by OLIVER GOLDSMITH ON PLAYWRIGHT (1) by BEN JONSON THE JACQUERIE: SONG. THE HOUND by SIDNEY LANIER SIT DOWN SAD SOUL by BRYAN WALLER PROCTER THE HARLOT'S HOUSE by OSCAR WILDE PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN OF CHARTRES by HENRY BROOKS ADAMS TRANSFIGURATION by LOUISA MAY ALCOTT |