Living
Lament over the Decay of Chow
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book xiii
O it is not the wild wind's blast,
Nor sound of wheels that hurry past;
Reviewing but the ways of Chow,
My heart is pained: I stand aghast.
O it is not the gale severe,
Nor yet the chariots' wild career;
Reviewing but the ways of Chow,
My heart is filled with sorrow drear.
Who knows the art of cooking fish?
Cleansed are his pots that hold the same.
Who seeks his homeland in the West?
Dear should he hold its honoured name.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Lament over the Decay of Chow.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/398/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Lament over the Decay of Chow.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/398/.
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