Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE POEMS OF COLD MOUNTAIN: 8 by HAN SHAN

First Line: A FINE YOUNG MAN ON HORSEBACK
Last Line: MEAN NOTHING WHEN YOU'RE DEAD
Subject(s): CHINESE LITERATURE; COURAGE; DEATH; MORTALITY; YOUTH; VALOR; BRAVERY; DEAD, THE;

A fine young man on horseback
waves his whip at the willows
he can't imagine death
he builds no boat or ladder
the seasonal flowers are lovely
until the day they wither and fade
rock sugar and clarified butter
mean nothing when you're dead



Home: PoetryExplorer.net