History & Politics
Worthless Display at the Court
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book xiv
Lo the convoy officers
Lance and pike that bear!
Lo the striplings — hundreds three —
Scarlet greaves that wear!
— Pelicans upon a dam!
Wetting ne'er a wing.
Ah the striplings, ne'er is one
Worth his garnishing.
— Pelicans upon a dam,
Wetting ne'er a bill;
Ah the striplings, never one
Worth his lord's goodwill!
O rank growth! O mists that climb
The south hill at morn!
O the tender fair young wives
That are famine-worn!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Worthless Display at the Court.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/399/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Worthless Display at the Court.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/399/.
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