Relationships
Husband and Wife
Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain (1900) · From Love Songs
WIFE.
Though other women's husbands ride
Along the road in proud array,
My husband, up the rough hill-side,
On foot must wend his weary way.
The grievous sight with bitter pain
My bosom fills, and many a tear
Steals down my cheek, and I would fain
Do aught to help my husband dear.
Come! take the mirror and the veil,
My mother's parting gifts to me;
In barter they must sure avail
To buy an horse to carry thee!
HUSBAND.
And I should purchase me an horse,
Must not my wife still sadly walk?
No, no! though stony is our course,
We'll trudge along and sweetly talk.
Codex Note
Anonymous.
Cite this poem
MLA
Classical Japanese Poets. “Husband and Wife.” Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-japanese-poets/14/.
Chicago
Classical Japanese Poets. “Husband and Wife.” Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-japanese-poets/14/.
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