Love

Wifely Solicitude

by Shi Jing (The Book of Songs) poems c. 1000–600 BC; compilation traditionally ascribed to Confucius

Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book i

Love

Along the dykes of Ju I passed,
And lopped the twigs and boughs;
My soul was faint with its long fast:
I saw not yet my spouse.

Along the dykes of Ju I passed,
And lopped the shoots new-grown;
I saw my noble spouse at last,
He left me not alone.

Poor bream! thy tail is crimson now!
Kings' biddings are severe —
Ordeals of fire! — yet aye hadst thou
Our land's Protector near.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Wifely Solicitude.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/307/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Wifely Solicitude.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/307/.

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