Swinging

Two green silk ropes, with painted stand,

from heights aerial swing,

And there outside the house a maid

disports herself in spring.

Along the ground her blood-red skirts

all swiftly swishing fly,

As though to bear her off to be

an angel in the sky.

Strewed thick with fluttering almond-blooms

the painted stand is seen;

The embroidered ropes flit to and fro

amid the willow green.

Then when she stops and out she springs

to stand with downcast eyes,

You think she is some angel

just now banished from the skies.

Hung Chueh-fan 11th and 12th cent. A.D.

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