Nature
A Cicada
Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu (1929) · From The Jade Mountain (1929)
Nature
Pure of heart and therefore hungry,
All night long you have sung in vain —
Oh, this final broken indrawn breath
Among the green indifferent trees!
Yes, I have gone like a piece of driftwood,
I have let my garden fill with weeds. . . .
I bless you for your true advice
To live as pure a life as yours.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shang-yin, Li. “A Cicada.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/li-shang-yin/11/.
Chicago
Shang-yin, Li. “A Cicada.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/li-shang-yin/11/.
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