Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SONG OF THE MARCHES, by LI TAI PO First Line: The tien-shan peaks still glisten Last Line: May seek their homes again. Subject(s): Mountains; Hills; Downs (great Britain) | ||||||||
The Tien-shan peaks still glisten In robes of spotless white; To songs of spring I listen, But see no flowers around. The ground is bare and dreary, No voice of spring I hear Save the "Willow Song" so eerie, I play upon my flute. At morn the fight will follow The sound of bugle call; Each man, in sleep, the hollow Across his saddle clasps. And by his side, unrusted, His sword is closely laid, With which he long has trusted The tyrant foe to slay. On noble chargers riding And fleeter than the wind, All fears and risks deriding, They cross the river Wei. Their bows are tautened tightly. Their quivers full of shafts, They face the danger lightly, And charge the haughty foe. As rocks by lightning riven Their ranks are rent apart; As clouds by tempest driven, They break and flee away. Then on the sand, blood-streaming, The weary victors sleep, Their swords with hoar-frost gleaming, Their bows dark shadows cast. The Pass has been defended, The foes are scattered far, The soldiers' wives untended May seek their homes again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CALIFORNIA SORROW: MOUNTAIN VIEW by MARY KINZIE CONTRA MORTEM: THE MOUNTAIN FASTNESS by HAYDEN CARRUTH GREEN MOUNTAIN IDYL by HAYDEN CARRUTH IF IT WERE NOT FOR YOU by HAYDEN CARRUTH |
|