Scented Leaves from a Chinese Jar - The Stupid Kite
a kite, while devouring a skylark, complained, “Had I known that thy flesh was no sweeter than that of a sparrow I should have listened longer to thy delicious notes.”
More poems by Allen Upward
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Scented Leaves from a Chinese Jar - The Acacia Leaves
the aged man, when he beheld winter approaching, counted the leaves as they lapsed from the acacia trees; while his son was talking of the spring. -
Scented Leaves from a Chinese Jar - The Bitter Purple Willows
meditating on the glory of illustrious lineage I lifted up my eyes and beheld the bitter purple willows growing round the tombs of the exalted Mings. -
Scented Leaves from a Chinese Jar - The Coral Fisher
the coral fisher, who had been a long time beneath the water, rose to the surface with nothing in his hand but a spray of crimson seaweed. In answer to the master of the junk he said, “While I was in the world of fishes this miserable weed appeared to me more beautiful than coral.” -
Scented Leaves from a Chinese Jar - The Diamond
the poet Wong, after he had delighted a company of mandarins at a feast, sat silent in the midst of his household. He explained, “The diamond sparkles only when it is in the light.”