Love
A Long-absent Husband
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book ii
Now the crickets chirp and grind;
And the hoppers spring and fly.
But my lord not yet I find;
Ay, and sore at heart am I.
O to see him once again!
O to meet him once again!
Stilled were then the swelling sigh.
Climbed I yonder up South Hill,
Plucked sweet brackens as I went.
But my lord I saw not still;
Loud was yet my heart's lament.
O to see him once again!
O to meet him once again!
So my heart were well content.
Climbed I yonder up South Hill,
Now to pluck the royal fern.
Yet my lord I saw not still;
Still my heart must pine and yearn.
O to see him once again!
O to meet him once again!
So my heart's-ease might return.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “A Long-absent Husband.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/310/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “A Long-absent Husband.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/310/.
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