Love
Ch'in, the "Fire-Bird with Plumage White as Jade," Longs for Her Lover
Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell (1921) · From Fir-Flower Tablets (1921)
Incessant the buzzing of insects beyond the orchid curtain.
The moon flings slanting shadows from the pepper-trees across the courtyard.
Pity the girl of the flowery house,
Who is not equal to the blossoms
Of Lo Yang.
Codex Note
From "Songs of the Courtesans", written during the Liang Dynasty (A.D. 502-557); the book gives no author beyond the singer, Ch'in.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Classical Chinese). “Ch'in, the "Fire-Bird with Plumage White as Jade," Longs for Her Lover.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-chinese-anonymous/24/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Classical Chinese). “Ch'in, the "Fire-Bird with Plumage White as Jade," Longs for Her Lover.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-chinese-anonymous/24/.
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