The Dwarves Of Tao-chou Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDAEFGHIJKLMNO APQFARQSTT| In the land of Tao chou | A |
| Many of the people are dwarfs | B |
| The tallest of them never grow to more than three feet | C |
| They were sold in the market as dwarf slaves and yearly sent to Court | D |
| Described as an offering of natural products from the land of Tao chou | A |
| A strange offering of natural products I never heard of one yet | E |
| That parted men from those they loved never to meet again | F |
| Old men weeping for their grandsons mothers for their children | G |
| One day Yang Ch ng came to govern the land | H |
| He refused to send up dwarf slaves in spite of incessant mandates | I |
| He replied to the Emperor Your servant finds in the Six Canonical Books | J |
| In offering products one must offer what is there and not what isn t there | K |
| On the waters and lands of Tao chou among all the things that live | L |
| I only find dwarfish people no dwarfish slaves | M |
| The Emperor s heart was deeply moved and he sealed and sent a scroll | N |
| The yearly tribute of dwarfish slaves is henceforth annulled | O |
| - | |
| The people of Tao chou | A |
| Old ones and young ones how great their joy | P |
| Father with son and brother with brother henceforward kept together | Q |
| From that day for ever more they lived as free men | F |
| The people of Tao chou | A |
| Still enjoy this gift | R |
| And even now when they speak of the Governor | Q |
| Tears start to their eyes | S |
| And lest their children and their children s children should forget the Governor s name | T |
| When boys are born the syllable Yang is often used in their forename | T |
Bai Juyi
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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