Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE POEMS OF COLD MOUNTAIN: 173 by HAN SHAN

First Line: RAISE GIRLS BUT NOT TOO MANY
Last Line: YOU'RE BIG BUT NO MATCH FOR YOUR MOTHER
Subject(s): CHINESE LITERATURE; GIRLS; PARENTS; PARENTHOOD;

Raise girls but not too many
once born they have to be trained
you'll pat their heads and tell them to be careful
or smack their behinds and yell to be still
and before they learn how to weave
they won't touch a basket or broom
Old Lady Chang cautioned her jennies
you're big but no match for your mother



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