Nature
One of the "Songs of the Ten Requests"
Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell (1921) · From Fir-Flower Tablets (1921)
My skirt is cut out of peacock silk,
Red and green shine together, they are also opposed.
It dazzles like the gold-chequered skin of the scaly dragon.
Clearly so odd and lovely a thing must be admired.
My Lord himself knows well the size.
I beg thee, my Lover, give me a girdle.
Codex Note
From "Songs of the Courtesans", written during the Liang Dynasty (A.D. 502-557); the book names the singer as Ting Liu Niang.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Classical Chinese). “One of the "Songs of the Ten Requests".” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-chinese-anonymous/21/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Classical Chinese). “One of the "Songs of the Ten Requests".” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-chinese-anonymous/21/.
Read this poem with the Codex →