Living
Decay of Filial Piety
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book xiii
O for a sight of the bonnet white,
And the rigorous wearer, spare and slight!
Sore were my heart at the moving sight!
O for a sight of the plain white dress!
How my heart would feel for the fatherless!
Fain would I homeward with him press.
O that I saw the white apron worn!
How my heart would cling to the youth forlorn,
Ay, and as one with him would mourn!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Decay of Filial Piety.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/396/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Decay of Filial Piety.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/396/.
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