Chapter 28

King’s Garden

King’s Garden

Who was the royal MingThat bade his tinkling musicians playAll through a wide and windy dayOf springTo the royal flowers?—BlissOf tall iris,Discreet applauseOf cherry and almond boughsAlong the ledgesOf sun-lacquered hours;Pursed lily-podsOut-lipping one by one,And sudden hushAmid the lushGreen sedges!—There walked the kingBeneath the quiveringLeaves,The weary players biddenPlay on and on,With slight, imperial nods;And in his satin sleevesHis hands, omniscient, hidden,As are the hands of gods.

Who was the royal MingThat bade his tinkling musicians playAll through a wide and windy dayOf springTo the royal flowers?—BlissOf tall iris,Discreet applauseOf cherry and almond boughsAlong the ledgesOf sun-lacquered hours;Pursed lily-podsOut-lipping one by one,And sudden hushAmid the lushGreen sedges!—There walked the kingBeneath the quiveringLeaves,The weary players biddenPlay on and on,With slight, imperial nods;And in his satin sleevesHis hands, omniscient, hidden,As are the hands of gods.

Who was the royal MingThat bade his tinkling musicians playAll through a wide and windy dayOf springTo the royal flowers?

Who was the royal Ming

That bade his tinkling musicians play

All through a wide and windy day

Of spring

To the royal flowers?

—BlissOf tall iris,Discreet applauseOf cherry and almond boughsAlong the ledgesOf sun-lacquered hours;Pursed lily-podsOut-lipping one by one,And sudden hushAmid the lushGreen sedges!—

—Bliss

Of tall iris,

Discreet applause

Of cherry and almond boughs

Along the ledges

Of sun-lacquered hours;

Pursed lily-pods

Out-lipping one by one,

And sudden hush

Amid the lush

Green sedges!—

There walked the kingBeneath the quiveringLeaves,The weary players biddenPlay on and on,With slight, imperial nods;And in his satin sleevesHis hands, omniscient, hidden,As are the hands of gods.

There walked the king

Beneath the quivering

Leaves,

The weary players bidden

Play on and on,

With slight, imperial nods;

And in his satin sleeves

His hands, omniscient, hidden,

As are the hands of gods.


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