The East Wind Sighs
The East wind sighs, the fine rains come:
Beyond the pool of water-lilies, the noise of faint thunder.
A gold toad gnaws the lock. Open it. Burn the incense.
A tiger of jade pulls the rope. Draw from the well and escape.
Chia's daughter peeped through the screen when Han the clerk was young.
The goddess of the river left her pillow for the great Prince of Wei.
Never let your heart open with the spring flowers:
One inch of love is an inch of ashes.
poem by Li Shangyin, translated by A.C. Graham
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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To One Unnamed II
A misty rain comes blowing with the wind from the east,
And wheels faintly thunder beyond Hibiscus Pool.
...Round the golden-toad lock, incense is creeping;
The jade tiger tells, on its cord, of water being drawn
A great lady once, from behind a screen, favoured a poor youth;
A fairy queen brought a bridal mat once for the ease of a prince and then vanished.
...Must human hearts blossom in spring, like all other flowers?
And of even this bright flame of love, shall there be only ashes?
poem by Li Shangyin
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Inch By Inch
You can take a powder
You can take a drink
You can keep the shrink
And the kitchen sink
Write my name in heaven
In invisible ink
I just woke up from dreaming, I think
You can take me over
You can give me a lip
You can take me under
You can give me the slip
Take off everything or tear me off a strip
Like a lady in the chamber
And another in the clip
Chorus
Dont move a muscle baby
Dont even flinch
You can miss me by a mile
Or just inch by inch
Inch by inch
Inch by inch
Inch by inch
You can pull me up again
Inch by inch
Inch by inch
As pulses race
I long to see that look upon your face
You can take me outside
You can take me apart
You can take me upstairs
You can take me to heart
You made me love you when
You thought you were so smart
Dont try to stop me when
You told me to start
Chorus
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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River Lilies
Saw a boy three lilies white,
Lilies in the river,
Half heart-open to the light,
Full of golden arrows bright,
Each a silver quiver.
Lilies, lilies, lilies white,
Lilies in the river.
Said the boy, “I’ll pluck you there,
Lilies in the river!”
Said the lilies, “If you dare
You shall drown, or homeward fare
Dripping and a-shiver!”
Lilies, lilies, lilies white,
Lilies in the river.
Wilful still the boy would clasp
Lilies in the river;
Tumbled in ere he could grasp,
Scrambled out with puff and gasp,
Plucked no lilies ever.
Lilies, lilies, lilies white,
Lilies in the river.
poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Now I Know Why It Must Rain Sometimes
there is no significance at first
when age is a little boy, the moon is the moon
nothing else, the wind is like anybody's wind
mother's breaths, like a pillow,
such a small world, of less significance
are the little things, unaccounted
laughters are laughters, sighs are sighs,
but today, the metaphors keep hovering
over my hair, like some flowers in my dreams
turning into butterflies, somehow,
the window becomes a framework of
my future, the door an opportunity
that i, as a pair of hands, must either close
or open,
this is it, every word is accounted and saved
and then something grows,
seeds are words now, and the flowers my deeds.
it rains sometimes, a cry for an unburdening.
sleep is again cruel to me.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Beg Me
Take one more step and its over
Back up slowly inside
Breathe too loud and Ill kill you
Get down on your knees and beg me
Beg me, beg
Beg me, beg me, beg
Take off all of your clothes
Lie face down on the bed
Move one inch and Ill shoot you
Make like a woman and beg me
Beg me, beg
I said, beg me, beg me, beg
Every night on tv
I see things that should make me blush
Looks like its going to be another open season
Open season on us
Open season, open season on us
Its the first hot day of the summer
Looks like theres gonna be thunder
Ive been sitting here all afternoon
Watching the clouds
You can see the sky from my window
Can feel the wind and smell the rain
And I dont see what difference it makes
If Im a man or a woman
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of time cannot be purchased for an inch of gold.
One Inch Tall
If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.
The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.
A crumb of cake would be a feast
And last you seven days at least,
A flea would be a frightening beast
If you were one inch tall.
If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You'd swing upon a spider's thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall.
You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.
You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb.
You'd run from people's feet in fright,
To move a pen would take all night,
(This poem took fourteen years to write--
'Cause I'm just one inch tall).
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Give Me An Inch
(robert palmer)
Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl
My eyes show me more than Ive seen
But unlike my poor heart theyre not cautious
I got to thinking love was a dream
Misunderstanding my fortunes
I should have taken more heed of my heart
Telling me how to live
But if you give me an inch, girl
Ill give you a mile
Oh, Ill make it all worth while
And Ill make you see
Just how much you mean to me
Well aint it easy to go head-over-heels
When you need the right person
You got to learn to smile about it
Nothing you do will feel certain
Here I stand with my heart in command
And its you I want to be with
Give me an inch, girl
Im in need of you
Dont leave me in the cold
When I want to trust in you
Dont turn me away
Life can be a worry
When its all work and no play
Give me an inch, girl
Ill give you a mile
Oh, Ill make it all worth while
And Ill make you see
Just how much
Just how much you mean to me
Give me an inch,
Ill give you a mile
And Ill make you see
Just how much, just how much you mean to me
Give me an inch, girl
Oh , Im in need of you
Dont leave me in the cold
When I want to trust in you
song performed by by Robert Palmer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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High Places
At each of the high places they burnt incense,
Just as the nations have done before;
But i am here with my love like the red light.
Lu and Chia came to ask of your love last night,
And of the rules and the regulations so set before them;
For Chia's chair was at the corner and,
I was on the wall watching you all.
The water reflected your image of love to them and,
Your beauty was seen at the high places of love;
But my views were like the things so seen with your love.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tz'u No. 18
To the tune of "Intoxicated in the Shadow of Flowers"
Thin mist, dense clouds, a grief-stricken day;
auspicious incense burns in the gold animal.
Once again, it is the joyous mid-autumn festival,
but a midnight chill
touches my jade pillow and silk bed-screen.
I drink wine by the eastern fence in the yellow dusk.
Now a dark fragrance fills
my sleeves and makes me spin.
The bamboo blinds sway in the west wind.
And I am even thinner than a yellow flower.
poem by Li Ching Chao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The essence of God
god is everywhere
he fills up the blank
in the mind when
we are jolted to the spirit
that gently pulls at
the petals of the rose
inch by inch for that
bright spring bloom dance
pulse after pulse
since conception
for each cell to thrive
the living spirit
that runs through
the whole of creation
to bind us to each other
the iron fisted law
that it helms to
govern all
to the farthest of stars
spirit+water+earth+metal+wood+air =
God binding us all
take away one
to see the whole creation crumble
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The King's Daughter
WE WERE ten maidens in the green corn,
Small red leaves in the mill-water:
Fairer maidens never were born,
Apples of gold for the king’s daughter.
We were ten maidens by a well-head,
Small white birds in the mill-water:
Sweeter maidens never were wed,
Rings of red for the king’s daughter.
The first to spin, the second to sing,
Seeds of wheat in the mill-water;
The third may was a goodly thing,
White bread and brown for the king’s daughter.
The fourth to sew and the fifth to play,
Fair green weed in the mill-water;
The sixth may was a goodly may,
White wine and red for the king’s daughter.
The seventh to woo, the eighth to wed,
Fair thin reeds in the mill-water;
The ninth had gold work on her head,
Honey in the comb for the king’s daughter.
The ninth had gold work round her hair,
Fallen flowers in the mill-water;
The tenth may was goodly and fair,
Golden gloves for the king’s daughter.
We were ten maidens in a field green,
Fallen fruit in the mill-water;
Fairer maidens never have been,
Golden sleeves for the king’s daughter.
By there comes the king’s young son,
A little wind in the mill-water;
“Out of ten maidens ye’ll grant me one,”
A crown of red for the king’s daughter.
“Out of ten mays ye’ll give me the best,”
A little rain in the mill-water;
A bed of yellow straw for all the rest,
A bed of gold for the king’s daughter.
He’s ta’en out the goodliest,
Rain that rains in the mill-water;
A comb of yellow shell for all the rest,
A comb of gold for the king’s daughter.
He’s made her bed to the goodliest,
Wind and hail in the mill-water;
A grass girdle for all the rest,
A girdle of arms for the king’s daughter.
He’s set his heart to the goodliest,
Snow that snows in the mill-water;
Nine little kisses for all the rest,
An hundredfold for the king’s daughter.
He’s ta’en his leave at the goodliest,
Broken boats in the mill-water;
Golden gifts for all the rest,
Sorrow of heart for the king’s daughter.
“Ye’ll make a grave for my fair body,”
Running rain in the mill-water;
“And ye’ll streek my brother at the side of me,”
The pains of hell for the king’s daughter.
poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Never Give An Inch
In extreme town, it can break down
Anyone who gives it half a chance.
It's a no man's land.
Where the heart beats,
Cold as concrete.
Come to sell their souls
Anyway they can.
Try to understand.
For everyone who makes it,
There's a million
Who get left behind.
The only way to make it out alive. . .
Is to never give an inch,
When you're livin' your life under fire,
Hold on.
Never give an inch,
Never lose sight of your one desire,
You're gone.
Never give an inch,
Take it straight to the end,
Even if it hurts, even if you bleed,
Even if you're down on your knees.
Never give an inch.
Fast walkers, slick talkers,
These are people, people talk about.
The spotlight goes out.
Between the users, and the losers,
There's never any room for any doubt.
You're in or you're out.
For every one that makes it,
There's a million who get left behind.
The only way to make it out alive
Is to never give an inch,
When you're livin' your life under fire,
Hold on.
Never give an inch,
Never lose sight of your one desire,
You're gone.
Never give an inch,
Take it straight to the end,
Even if it hurts, even if you bleed,
Even if you're down on your knees.
Never give an inch.
Some go for desperate measures,
They're under the gun.
I go for grace under pressure,
Standin' my ground, whenever it comes.
Lead Break
For everyone who makes it,
There's a million who get left behind.
The only way to make it out alive
Is to never give an inch,
When you're livin' your life under fire,
Hold on.
Never give an inch-acapo
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
Oh When Will Autumn Moon and Spring Flowers End
Spring flower autumn moon what time finish?
Past events know so many
Small tower last night again east wind
Old country cot bear recollect moon bright at
Carve balustrade marble steps must still remain
Simply red face change
For gentleman can be how much sorrow?
Just like a river spring water to east flow
Oh when will autumn moon and spring flowers end?
How many past events I've known.
The east wind buffeted my room again last night,
I cannot bear to remember the bright moon of the old country.
The marble steps and carved balustrades must still be there,
The people's rosy cheeks are all that's changed.
How much sorrow can one man have to bear?
As much as a river of spring water flowing east.
The Double Ninth Festival
To the tune of "Intoxicated Under the Shadow of Flowers"
Light mists and heavy clouds,
melancholy the long dreary day.
In the golden censer
the burning incense is dying away.
It is again time
for the lovely Double-Ninth Festival;
The coolness of midnight
penetrates my screen of sheer silk
and chills my pillow of jade.
After drinking wine at twilight
under the chrysanthemum hedge,
My sleeves are perfumed
by the fragrance of the plants.
Oh, I cannot say it is not endearing,
Only, when the west wind stirs the curtain,
I see that I am more gracile
than the yellow flowers.
poem by Li Ching Chao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Water Lilies
Where the water-lilies go
To and fro,
Rocking in the ripples of the water,
Lazy on a leaf lies the Lake King's daugher,
And the faint winds shake her.
Who will come and take her?
I will! I will!
Keep still! Keep still!
Sleeping on a leaf lies the Lake King's daughter. . . .
Then the wind comes skipping
To the lilies on the water;
And the kind winds wake her.
Now who will take her?
With a laugh she is slipping
Through the lilies on the water.
Wait! Wait!
Too late, too late!
Only the water-lilies go
To and fro,
Dipping, dipping,
To the ripples of the water.
poem by Alan Alexander Milne
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Buttons
I have been watching the war map slammed up for advertising in front of the newspaper office.
Buttons—red and yellow buttons—blue and black buttons—are shoved back and forth across the map.
A laughing young man, sunny with freckles,
Climbs a ladder, yells a joke to somebody in the crowd,
And then fixes a yellow button one inch west
And follows the yellow button with a black button one inch west.
(Ten thousand men and boys twist on their bodies in a red soak along a river edge,
Gasping of wounds, calling for water, some rattling death in their throats.)
Who would guess what it cost to move two buttons one inch on the war map here in front of the newspaper office where the freckle-faced young man is laughing to us?
poem by Carl Sandburg
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Seed-Time And Harvest
MY hollyhocks are all awake,
And not a single rose is lost;
My wallflowers, for dear pity's sake,
Have fought the winter's cruel frost;
Pink peony buds begin to peer,
And flags push up their sword-blades fine:
I know there will not be this year
A brighter garden plot than mine.
I'll sow the seeds of mignonette,
Of snapdragon and sunflowers tall,
And scarlet poppies I will set
To flower against the southern wall;
Already all my lilies show
The green crowns baby lilies wear,
And all my flowers will grow and blow,
Because Love's hand has set them there.
I'll plant and water, sow and weed,
Till not an inch of earth shows brown,
And take a vow of each small seed
To grow to greenness and renown:
And then some day you'll pass my way,
See gold and crimson, bell and star,
And catch my garden's soul, and say:
'How sweet these cottage gardens are!'
poem by Edith Nesbit
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An inch of time cannot be bought with an inch of gold.