Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GROWING OLD (2), by YUAN MEI



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GROWING OLD (2), by                    
First Line: When I was young and had no money to spend
Last Line: "to be poor when one is old does not matter at all."
Alternate Author Name(s): Tzu-ts'ai
Subject(s): Old Age; Property; Possessions


When I was young and had no money to spend
I had a passionate longing for expensive things.
I was always envying people for their fur coats,
For the wonderful things they got to eat and drink.
I dreamt of these things, but none of them came my way,
And in the end I became very depressed.
Nowadays, I have got quite smart clothes,
But am old and ugly, and they do not suit me at all.
And the choicest foods are on my table;
But I only manage to eat a few scraps.
I feel inclined to say to my Creator
"Let me live my days on earth again,
But this time be rich when I am young;
To be poor when one is old does not matter at all."





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