Tower

[pjthompson]

Random quote of the day:
“When young, I did not know the taste of sorrow.
I went up the tower.
I went up the tower
to write a poem on pretended sorrow.

By now I’ve completely tasted sorrow, but already
I do not want to speak about it.
I do not want to speak about it,
I only say: what a beautiful, cold autumn.”
—Xin Qiji
(28 May 1140 – 3 Oct 1207)



Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Bert and Ernie, Celine Dion, or the Band of the Coldstream Guards. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Comments

[asakiyume]

What a truth-speaking poem. Beautiful.

[pjthompson]

Thank you. I found it so. There are many variant translations of this, but I found this the most satisfying.

[wayfaringwordhack]

It is funny, I don't identify with this poem, having tasted more than enough sorrow at a young age; but I very much love the sentiment and expression.

[pjthompson]

Everyone's experience is different. There's no one size fits all even in poetry. 🙂

[wayfaringwordhack]

LOL. I would even say especially in poetry because even when the poet taps into a comment sentiment, et al. there is still that ultra-personal way of expressing it.

[pjthompson]

Exactly. All writing and art, really. There is what the artist intended/did and what the reader/viewer brings to it.