Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE YOUNG CARPENTER by AL-RUSAFI

First Line: WHEN I WAS TOLD HE HAD BEEN LEARNING
Last Line: WHEN THEY WERE BRANCHES ON A TREE.

When I was told he had been learning
To be a carpenter, I said,
'Perchance he learned his craft by turning
His eyes, to turn a fellow's head!'

Unhappy boughs! They'll soon be rueing
He chose to chop them, this fine spring,
For some are singled out for hewing,
And some are marked for hammering.

Converted to a wooden block! It's
A just reward for roguery
And ever plucking at his pockets
When they were branches on a tree.



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