OF cord and cassia-wood is the harp compounded: Within it lie ancient melodies. Ancient melodies -- weak and savourless, Not appealing to present men's taste. Light and colour are faded from the jade stops: Dust has covered the rose-red strings. Decay and ruin came to it long ago, But the sound that is left is still cold and clear. I do not refuse to play it, if you want me to: But even if I play, people will not listen. How did it come to be neglected so? Because of the Ch'iang flute and the Ch'in flageolet. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STANZAS; HOOD'S LAST POEM by THOMAS HOOD THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE CRICKET by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: EDITOR WHEDON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ANGEL OR WOMAN by THOMAS PARNELL KEEPING ENDLESS HOLIDAY by TITUS PETRONIUS NIGER LOVE SONG by THEODORE FAULLAIN DE BANVILLE TO -- OCCASIONED BY HIS POEM ON THE SUN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |