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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO THE CITY OF NANKING by LI PO

First Line: THOU THAT HAST SEEN SIX KINGDOMS PASS AWAY
Last Line: TO MINGLE WITH THE ABYSMS OF THE SEA.
Subject(s): NANKING, CHINA;

Thou that hast seen six kingdoms pass away,
Accept my song and these three cups I drain!
There may be fairer gardens light the plain;
Thine are the dim blue hills more fair than they.

Here Kings of Wu were crowned and overthrown,
Where peaceful grass along the ruin wins;
Here -- was it yesterday? -- the royal Tsins
Called down the dreams of sunset into stone.

One end awaits for all that mortal be;
Pride and despair shall find a common grave:
The Yang-tse-kiang renders wave and wave
To mingle with the abysms of the sea.






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