Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE COCK-FIGHT, by TS'AO CHIH First Line: Our wandering eyes are sated with the dancer's skill Last Line: "then I shall not leave without winning the match!" Alternate Author Name(s): Tzu-chien Subject(s): China - Middle Ages (600 B.c.- 618 A.d.); Cock-fighting | ||||||||
OUR wandering eyes are sated with the dancer's skill, Our ears are weary with the sound of "kung" and "shang." Our host is silent and sits doing nothing: All the guests go on to places of amusement. On long benches the sportsmen sit ranged Round a cleared room, watching the fighting-cocks. The gallant birds are all in battle-trim: They raise their tails and flap defiantly. Their beating wings stir the calm air: Their angry eyes gleam with a red light. Where their beaks have struck, the fine feathers are scattered: With their strong talons they wound again and again. Their long cries enter the blue clouds; Their flapping wings tirelessly beat and throb. "Pray God the lamp-oil lasts a little longer, Then I shall not leave without winning the match!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COMBAT OF THE COCKS by THOMAS RANDOLPH A MEMORY OF THE PLAYERS IN A MIRROR AT MIDNIGHT by JAMES JOYCE THE STRAPLESS by KAREN SWENSON A SECOND REVIEW OF THE GRAND ARMY [MAY 24, 1865] by FRANCIS BRET HARTE ON LIBERTY AND SLAVERY by GEORGE MOSES HORTON THE LAST RESERVATION by WALTER LEARNED A FATHER OF WOMEN: AD SOROREM E. B. by ALICE MEYNELL THE FISHERMAN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SWORD AND BUCKLER; OR, SERVING-MAN'S DEFENCE: INTRODUCTION by WILLIAM BASSE |
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