Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD POEM: 15, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD POEM: 15, by                    
First Line: At the beginning of winter a cold spirit comes
Last Line: I fear that you will never know or guess
Subject(s): China - Early Period (to 200 B.c.)


AT the beginning of winter a cold spirit comes,
The North Wind blows -- chill, chill.
My sorrows being many, I know the length of the nights,
Raising my head I look at the stars in their places.
On the fifteenth day the bright moon is full,
On the twentieth day the "toad and hare" wane.
A stranger came to me from a distant land
And brought me a single scroll with writing on it;
At the top of the scroll was written "Do not forget,"
At the bottom was written "Goodbye for Ever."
I put the letter away in the folds of my dress,
For three years the writing did not fade.
How with an undivided heart I loved you
I fear that you will never know or guess.





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