History & Politics
Disappointed Emigrants
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part II, Book iv
Yellow birds, yellow birds!
Do not crowd the tree-tops;
Come not pecking our crops. —
From the folk of this land
We no welcoming win;
Up, let us return
To our country and kin.
Yellow birds, yellow birds!
— Not the mulberry-trees.
Come not pecking our maize. —
With the folk of this land
Understanding is vain;
Up, let us return
To our brethren again.
Yellow birds, yellow birds!
— Nor the thicket of thorn.
Come not pecking our corn.
With the folk of this land
We can never remain;
Up, let us return
To our fathers again.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Disappointed Emigrants.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/410/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Disappointed Emigrants.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/410/.
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