Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE RED COCKATOO by PO CHU-YI

First Line: SENT AS A PRESENT FROM ANNAM
Last Line: AND SHUT IT UP INSIDE.
Subject(s): ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM; CHINA - TANG DYNASTY (618-905); PARROTS;

Sent as a present from Annam --
A red cockatoo.
Coloured like a peach-tree blossom,
Speaking with the speech of men.
And they did to it what is always done
To the learned and eloquent.
They took it to a cage with stout bars
And shut it up inside.



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