Living
The K‘aou Pwan
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book V
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.
Codex Note
A happy recluse.
Cite this poem
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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