Meng Jiao 孟郊
c. 800 · Tang China
The thread in a loving mother's hand, the coat on a wandering son's back. Before he leaves she sews it stitch on close stitch, fearing in her heart that he will be slow to return.
慈母手中線，遊子身上衣。
臨行密密縫，意恐遲遲歸。"Song of the Wandering Son," in the Complete Tang Poems
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In the same thread
Yi Annul 李安訥
late 16th century · Joseon Korea · While serving on the frontier in Hamgyeong province
I meant to write home and tell them how hard it is, but feared it would make my white-haired parents sick with worry. So with the snow piled a thousand fathoms deep on the dark hills, I report that this winter is as warm as spring.
欲作家書說苦辛 恐敎愁殺白頭親
陰山積雪深千丈 却報今冬暖似春Dong'ak jip, "Sending a Letter Home"
Ishikawa Takuboku 石川啄木
1910 · Meiji Japan
For a joke I lifted my mother on my back, and she was so light I wept and could not take three steps.
たはむれに母を背負ひて
そのあまり軽きに泣きて
三歩あゆまずTanka collection A Handful of Sand (Ichiaku no suna)
Kim Manjung 金萬重
September 25, 1689 · Joseon Korea · In exile on Namhae. His mother died that winter
This morning I meant to write down how I miss my mother, but before a word was formed my tears were already flowing. How many times have I wet the brush and thrown it down again? My collected works will have to go without the poems from Namhae.
今朝欲寫思親語 字未成時淚已滋
幾度濡毫還復擲 集中應缺海南詩Seopo jip, "The Twenty-fifth Day of the Ninth Month, 1689"
Li Mi 李密
AD 267 · Western Jin China · Written to decline the emperor's summons. His grandmother was ninety-six
Without my grandmother, I would never have reached this day. Without me, my grandmother has no way to live out her remaining years.
臣無祖母，無以至今日；祖母無臣，無以終餘年。"Memorial Stating My Case"
Cen Shen 岑參
749 · Tang China · On his way to a post on the western frontier
I look east towards home and the road goes on and on. Both my sleeves are soaked and the tears will not dry. We meet on horseback, with no paper or brush. I ask you only to take word that I am well.
故園東望路漫漫，雙袖龍鍾淚不乾。
馬上相逢無紙筆，憑君傳語報平安。"Meeting an Envoy on His Way to the Capital," in the Complete Tang Poems
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