Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN OLD SONG, by SOLOMON BLOOMGARDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN OLD SONG, by                    
First Line: In the blossom-land japan
Last Line: "and one who sings her child to sleep."
Alternate Author Name(s): Yehoash
Subject(s): Death; Fights; Dead, The


IN the blossom-land Japan
Somewhere thus an old song ran.
Said a warrior to a smith
"Hammer me a sword forthwith.
Make the blade
Light as wind on water laid.
Make it long
As the wheat at harvest song.
Supple, swift
As a snake, without rift,
Full of lightnings, thousand-eyed!
Smooth as silken cloth and thin
As the web that spiders spin.
And merciless as pain, and cold."

"On the hilt what shall be told?"

"On the sword's hilt, my good man,"
Said the warrior of Japan,
"Trace for me
A running lake, a flock of sheep
And one who sings her child to sleep."





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