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This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you!

Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!


 



To Tan Ch'iu
by
Li Po

My friend is lodging high in the Eastern Range,
Dearly loving the beauty of valleys and hills.
At Green Spring he lies in the empty woods;
And is still alseep when the sun shines on high.
A pine-tree wind dusts his sleeves and coat;
A pebbly s team cleans his heart and ears.
I envy you, who far from strife and talk
Are high-propped on a pillow of blue cloud.

 

Translated by Arthur Waley, 1919.
This poem is in the public domain.

 

 

 

 

Li Po (702-761) is one of China's best known poets.  Also known as Li Bai, this wealthy scholar produced an abundance of work praised for its imagination, imagery, and celebration of simple subject matter.  Beloved by rich and poor alike, Li Po spent most of his life traveling around his home country. Generous with his wealth and fond of a good time, Li Po was alternately favored and imprisoned by Chinese royalty. His nickname, "the poem god," came from his alleged ability to produce beautiful poetry quickly and effortlessly. More than a thousand of his poems are still around for us to read and enjoy.

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