from North Hills
attrib. by Pound (after Fenollosa) in Cathay to a 4th century BC ‘Kutsugen’;
actually anon.;
quite a way after Shih Ching II. 1. (167) (poems therein variously 11th-7th century BC)
Shu’s bowmen
gather bracken
when it’s ready
O to return
(year’s waning)
no house, no home,
it's those damned Huns
no rest nohow
it’s those damned Huns
gather bracken
when it’s tender
O to return
(hearts and minds sad)
– minds, hearts, broken
going hungry
war’s not over,
there’s no home leave
gather bracken
when it’s sturdy
O to return
(year’s ending)
O.H.M.S.
no rest, nohow
(hearts and minds ill)
there’s no return
what can that be?
flowering cherry!
what goes so far?
high-up’s staff-car!
such horsepower –
an armoured car…
now they tell us:
VICTORY’S CERTAIN!
what horsepower!
roaring roaring…
the General,
he’s done for us…
winged-horse’d bonnet,
soft leather trim…
Daily Alert:
Here Come The Hun!
when we set out
willows blossomed
now we go back
willows weeping…
Slog to the Lo
- hungry going -
hearts, minds wounded
– back home don’t know.
i.m. Guy Davenport