Have you ever read something and it just knocks you back in your seat? I mean physically makes you FEEL something when you read the words? I just did.
As you all know, I am a fan of Classical Chinese Poetry and I was just perusing a web-site which has quite a few poems archived and came across this little gem and thought I would share it with you. I am not sure what year this was written in, but the powerful juxtaposition of the wealthy’s lot in life to the poor’s lot in life just made me cringe when I read it. WOW!
The Frivolous Rich – Bai JuYi (Po Chu-i )
With their arrogant manner, they fill up the road;
The horses they ride glisten in the dust.
“May I inquire, who might that be?”
People say that's a palace eunuch.
Those with red sashes are all high ministers;
The purple tassels might signify generals.
Haughtily they go to dine with the troops,
Their prancing horses passing like clouds.
Goblets and tankards will overflow with every wine;
Water and land have yielded every delicacy.
Fresh-picked fruits, and Tung-t'ing oranges;
T'ien-ch'ih fish, all scaled and sliced.
After gorging themselves, their minds will be at ease;
Drunk on wine, their spirits will soar.
This year drought devastated the South,
And in Ch'u-chou people cannibalized each other.
(*China's Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture
By Charles O. Hucker. )
