Love
Irregular Love-making
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book iii
A modest maiden, passing fair to see,
Waits at the corner of the wall for me.
I love her, yet I have no interview: —
I scratch my head — I know not what to do.
The modest maid — how winsome was she then,
The day she gave me her vermilion pen!
Vermilion pen was never yet so bright, —
The maid's own loveliness is my delight.
Now from the pasture lands she sends a shoot
Of couchgrass fair; and rare it is, to boot.
Yet thou, my plant (when beauties I compare),
Art but the fair one's gift, and not the Fair!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Irregular Love-making.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/330/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Irregular Love-making.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/330/.
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