Death & Dying
Losing a Slave-Girl
Translated by Arthur Waley (1919) · From More Translations from the Chinese (1919)
Death & Dying
Around my garden the little wall is low;
In the bailiff’s lodge the lists are seldom checked.
I am ashamed to think we were not always kind;
I regret your labours, that will never be repaid.
The caged bird owes no allegiance;
The wind-tossed flower does not cling to the tree.
Where to-night she lies none can give us news;
Nor any knows, save the bright watching moon.
Cite this poem
MLA
Chü-i, Po. “Losing a Slave-Girl.” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/po-chu-i/97/.
Chicago
Chü-i, Po. “Losing a Slave-Girl.” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/po-chu-i/97/.
Read this poem with the Codex →