Love
The Yin K‘e Luy
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book II
Grand in the south the thunder rolls,
Beyond that lofty hill,
Why must he go, nor dare to stay
Brief space at rest and still?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!
Grand in the south the thunder rolls
Along that mountain’s side.
Why must he go from this, nor dare
Brief time at rest to bide?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!
Grand in the south the thunder rolls,
Around that mountain’s base-
Why must he go from this, nor dare
Indulge himself a space?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!
Codex Note
A lady’s admiration of her husband absent on public service, and her longing for his return.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yin K‘e Luy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/18/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yin K‘e Luy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/18/.
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