Living
Comparisons
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book xv
Living
How do we hew our axes' helves?
Not without axes, sure, themselves.
What if to take a wife we mean?
Hopeless, save with a go-between.
As in the hewing of helves, of helves,
Not far off are the types themselves,!
Haply have I my lady met,
So is the feast in order set!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Comparisons.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/400/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Comparisons.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/400/.
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