Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POEMS OF COLD MOUNTAIN: 158 by HAN SHAN

First Line: A TREE GREW HERE BEFORE THE GROVE
Last Line: WHAT REMAINS IS REAL
Subject(s): AGING; CHINESE LITERATURE; TREES;
A tree grew here before the grove
its age is twice as great
the shifting earth has gnarled its roots
wind and frost have parched its leaves
people scorn its withered outside
no one sees its fine-grained heart
but when its bark is stripped away
what remains is real



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