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To Tu Fu*

I stand with you, Tu Fu,
With your ten thousand sorrows.

To say I feel any different than you
With the spring about to mesmerize
And the sound of birds and flutes...

No, at last our spring is looming!
Soon we will leave this room;
I will take my walking stick.

My face is warmed
By the breeze
Swollen in pollen
And happily
I sneeze

And think of you, Tu Fu.

Last few words: 
*- Tu Fu, 713-770 AD. One of the most famous Chinese poets. He wrote many poems to spring. It is well known he suffered from Asthma.
Editing stage: 

Comments

It is amazing that the writing of the past has stood the test of time and allows us to connect on such normal, everyday levels with ancient people, who can seem so distant. We are all just people and much of my favorite poetry serves as gentle reminders of this truth.

Kelsey

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the love songs of Catullus, Tu Fu, or the poetry from tribal people (best is the anthology called "Technicians of the Sacred"), the poems of King David...its amazing how nothing is really unique to a basic humanity. Good Poetry and wine have been around a long time. The tribal peoples make a good beer, and have their hallucinogens too!

Lately I've been deeply involved with the marvels of the ancient world and how technically sophisticated they were. There is so much concrete scientific evidence that electricity was common in ancient Egypt that to deny it is the same as denying climate change today. and so so much more. Great stuff to read about!

..

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

author comment

think that because we are a little bit more technically evolved than past generations; that we are the pinnacle of civilization! I'm impressed by your literary sense, Eumolpus. I learn something from you every time I read one of your works! ~ Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Thank you so much for that. makes it all worth it!

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

author comment

Great write in admiration of an old poet.
Are you sure his name was Tu Fu.
I have his name as Gu Fu Born 712AD - 770AD From Gongyi China.
Just a small thing otherwise the write is spot on,
Take care yours as always, Ian..

.
Give critique to help keep Neopoet great.
Unconditional love to you all.
"Learn to love yourself first"
Yours as always, Ian.T, Sparrow, and Yenti

Some have it as Du Fu. But the "White Pony Chinese Anthology," the most famous in English, and "100 poems from the Chinese" by Kenneth Rexroth have him as Tu Fu. Quite a lot known abut his life. He did refer to his asthma in some of his works. Here's a typical poem, from which I used in my poem:

Loneliness

A hawk hovers in the air.
Two white gulls float on the stream,
Soaring with the wind, it is easy
To drop and seize
Birds who foolishly drift with the current.
Where the dew sparkles in the grass
The spider's web waits for its prey.
The process of nature resembles the business of man.
I stand alone with ten thousand sorrows.

I think that about says it all!
...

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

author comment

I expect that is why both names came up on research.
Thanks for the update, love his works and for a poet to be remembered for that long is great indeed, I only hope some of us jotters will be so remembered, can't see that though lol
Take care out there and thanks again..
Yours Ian..

.
Give critique to help keep Neopoet great.
Unconditional love to you all.
"Learn to love yourself first"
Yours as always, Ian.T, Sparrow, and Yenti

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