Thursday 10 January 2013

Mao Tse-tung - poems - THREE SHORT POEMS


THREE SHORT POEMS
--to the tune of Shih Liu Tzu Ling
1934-1935


I
Mountains!
I whip my swift horse, glued to my saddle.
I turn my head startled,
The sky is three foot three above me!*
II
Mountains!
Like great waves surging in a crashing sea,
Like a thousand stallions
In full gallop in the heat of battle.
III
Mountains!
Piercing the blue of heaven, your barbs unblunted!
The skies would fall
But for your strength supporting.



AUTHOR'S NOTE:
A folk song runs :
Skull Mountain up above,
Treasure Mountain down below,
The sky is only three foot three away.
Bend your head if you go by foot,
Dismount if you go by horse.


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