Living

The K‘aou Pwan

by Shi Jing (The Book of Songs) poems c. 1000–600 BC; compilation traditionally ascribed to Confucius

Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book V

Living

By the stream in the vale his hut he has reared,
That man tall and stout, looking free from all cares.
He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, and then talks ;—
And ne’er to forget what he prizes, he swears.

In the bend of the mound his hut he has reared,
That man tall and stout, gay and lightsome of heart.
He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, and then sings ;—
He swears from this spot he will never depart.

There on that level height his hut he has reared,
That man tall and stout, who himself so contains.
He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, sleeps again ;—
He swears he’ll ne’er tell what in his mind reigns.

✦ ✦ ✦

A happy recluse.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The K‘aou Pwan.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/55/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The K‘aou Pwan.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/55/.

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