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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON READING A VOLUME OF ANCIENT CHINESE POETRY, by                    
First Line: And here, in this old book, we find discussed
Last Line: And as they will who after us shall be.
Subject(s): Chinese Literature; Literature


And here, in this old book, we find discussed
The themes we choose today: business and toil,
Knowledge and fame, weariness born of moil,
Daydreams of youth, visions of love and lust;
Whether it pays to work that one may live,
Whether it pays to live, if work is all;
How one may think great thoughts in one room small,
How one may gain great wealth, if he but give;
Here one may learn the foolishness of pride,
The curse of gold; and here are saintly prayers
For high celestial joys: by mystic stairs
These old philosophers and poets tried
To burst the doors of heaven, as do we --
And as they will who after us shall be.





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