Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HAVING CLIMBED TO THE TOPMOST PEAK OF THE INCENSE-BURNER MOUNTAIN, by PO CHU-YI Poet's Biography First Line: Up and up, the incense-burner peak! Last Line: Then, with lowered head, came back to the ants' nest. Alternate Author Name(s): Bai Juyi; Bo Juyi; Po Chu-i; Lo T'ien; Jyu-yi Subject(s): China - Tang Dynasty (618-905); Mountain Climbing; Nature; Retirement | ||||||||
Up and up, the Incense-burner Peak! In my heart is stored what my eyes and ears perceived. All the year -- detained by official business; To-day at last I got a chance to go. Grasping the creepers, I clung to dangerous rocks; My hands and feet -- weary with groping for hold. There came with me three or four friends, But two friends dared not go further. At last we reached the topmost crest of the Peak; My eyes were blinded, my soul rocked and reeled. The chasm beneath me -- ten thousand feet; The ground I stood on, only a foot wide. If you have not exhausted the scope of seeing and hearing, How can you realize the wideness of the world? The waters of the River looked narrow as a ribbon, P'en Castle smaller than a man's fist. How it clings, the dust of the world's halter! It chokes my limbs: I cannot shake it away. Thinking of retirement, I heaved an envious sigh, Then, with lowered head, came back to the Ants' Nest. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RETIREMENT by IRVING FELDMAN THOUGHTS OF A RETIRED DIAMOND CUTTER by ELEANOR WILNER SWINEHERD by EILEAN NI CHUILLEANAIN FAREWELL TO ARMS by GEORGE PEELE THE LAMENTATION OF THE OLD PENSIONER (1) by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE LAMENTATION OF THE OLD PENSIONER (2) by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS PAX BRITANNICA by ALFRED AUSTIN MADLY SINGING IN THE MOUNTAINS by PO CHU-YI |
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