Needle and Thread

Tempered, annealed, the hard essence of autumn metals
finely forged, subtle, yet perdurable and straight.

By nature penetrating deep yet advancing by inches
to span all things yet stitch them up together,

Only needle-and-thread's delicate footsteps
are truly broad-ranging yet without beginning!

How can those who count pennies calculate their worth?
They may carve mountains yet lack all understanding.


Pan Zhao (Ban Zhao) (Pan Chou)(48-117? B.C.E.)
"The only woman to hold the post of official historian to the Imperial Court of the Han Dynasty, Pan Zhao was widowed at an early age. She is the most famous woman scholar of Chinese history; besides history and poetry she wrote as well a poplular collection of Confucian Precepts for Women."
More information here: Other Women's Voices