Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WOMAN, by FU HSUAN Poet's Biography First Line: How sad it is to be a woman Last Line: Than they whose parting is like ts'an and ch'en. Alternate Author Name(s): Hsiu-i; Fu Xuan Subject(s): China - Middle Ages (600 B.c.- 618 A.d.); Women | ||||||||
How sad it is to be a woman! Nothing on earth is held so cheap. Boys stand leaning at the door Like Gods fallen out of Heaven. Their hearts brave the Four Oceans, The wind and dust of a thousand miles. No one is glad when a girl is born: By her the family sets no store. When she grows up, she hides in her room Afraid to look a man in the face. No one cries when she leaves her home -- Sudden as clouds when the rain stops. She bows her head and composes her face, Her teeth are pressed on her red lips: She bows and kneels countless times. She must humble herself even to the servants. His love is distant as the stars in Heaven, Yet the sunflower bends toward the sun. Their hearts more sundered than water and fire -- A hundred evils are heaped upon her. Her face will follow the years' changes: Her lord will find new pleasures. They that were once like substance and shadow Are now as far as Hu from Ch'in. Yet Hu and Ch'in shall sooner meet Than they whose parting is like Ts'an and Ch'en. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV |
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