Living

Embroideries

by Ssŭ-k’ung T’u 837–908

Translated by L. Cranmer-Byng (1909) · From A Lute of Jade (1909)

Living

If rank and wealth within the mind abide,
Then gilded dust is all your yellow gold.
Kings in their fretted palaces grow old;
Youth dwells for ever at Contentment’s side.
A mist cloud hanging at the river’s brim,
Pink almond flowers along the purple bough,
A hut rose-girdled under moon-swept skies,
A painted bridge half-seen in shadows dim, --
These are the splendours of the poor, and thou,
O wine of spring, the vintage of the wise.

MLA

T’u, Ssŭ-k’ung. “Embroideries.” Translated by L. Cranmer-Byng. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ssu-kung-tu/7/.

Chicago

T’u, Ssŭ-k’ung. “Embroideries.” Translated by L. Cranmer-Byng. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ssu-kung-tu/7/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Ssŭ-k’ung T’u