Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A JAPANESE NO DANCE, by ALICE ROGERS HAGER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A JAPANESE NO DANCE, by                    
First Line: When the spent pipes moan, slow, slow
Last Line: Brocaded beauty shall avail nothing!
Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers; Japan; Lotus; Japanese; Lotos


When the spent pipes moan, slow, slow,
Like a rosy lotus called to wake by the sun,
You rise and dance.
Hands suppliant to the cool wind --
The cool wind that blew over the river
A thousand years ago --
Sing softly, Lotus-Lady.

The voices of the river-boatmen drone,
Minored in ancient cadences;
And their arms strain on the long sweeps.

Swing softly in the wind, Lotus-Flower:
The dead are very quiet in their tombs,
And gold brocade avails them nothing.

Gold brocade and fans of lacquer and purple
Avail nothing when the cold wind comes out of the North;
And a warm heart avails nothing.

Now the sun glows like a flame of topaz,
A flame of topaz set in turquoise,
Hot in a still sky;
And his kiss is upon the water, --
About you the breath of your magnificent lover,
Your mad, impatient lover --

Smile and sigh, O exquisite Mistress of Heaven!
The wings of the Crow are in the West;
And the chill wind treads on the source of the waters --
Brocaded beauty shall avail nothing!





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