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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE POEMS OF COLD MOUNTAIN: 271 by HAN SHAN

First Line: I RECALL TWENTY YEARS AGO
Last Line: I CAME OUT AHEAD
Subject(s): CHINESE LITERATURE; FOOLS; IDIOTS;

I recall twenty years ago
my slow steps ending at Kuoching
the people at Kuoching Temple
agreed Cold Mountain was a fool
and why was I a fool
because I couldn't reason
but I didn't know my self
so how could they
I bowed my head and didn't ask
why ask anyway
people still reproached me
this is something I know well
and though I didn't answer
I came out ahead



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