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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 PENT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON A BALLAD OF ATHLONE; OR, HOW THEY BROKE DOWN THE BRIDGE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE AGAINST THEM WHO LAY UNCHASTITY TO THE SEX OF WOMAN by WILLIAM HABINGTON THE TROOPS by SIEGFRIED SASSOON BARBARA FRIETCHIE [SEPTEMBER 13, 1862] by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ON A VOLUME OF ANONYNOUS POEMS ENTITLED A MASQUE OF POETS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |
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