Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LUTE PLAYER (A WOMAN), by HAN YU


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LUTE PLAYER (A WOMAN), by                    
First Line: Tell-tale your song -- as tell-tale as your eyes
Last Line: Like water flooding from a broken vase.
Alternate Author Name(s): T'su-chih
Subject(s): Lutes; Music & Musicians; Musical Instruments; Women


From the Chinese of Han Yu, Eighth Century, A.D.)

Tell-tale your song -- as tell-tale as your eyes
Wistful your melody. Your "soft" and "loud"
Are heard together like a rain of pearls
-- Seed-pearls and globules on a marble dish.
Rending your climax, as a knife through silk
And your finale bursts in liquid tones
Like water flooding from a broken vase.





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