History & Politics

The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VI)

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 VI

History & Politics

Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream ;—
Unable a faggot to bear.
Guarding Shin here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever ;
Thought parts from them never ;—
What month shall we homeward repair?

Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream ;—
A bundle of thorns ’twill not bear.
Guarding P‘oo here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever;
Thought parts from them never ;—
What month shall we homeward repair ?

Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream ;—
The reed-bundle powerless to bear.
Guarding Heu here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever;
Thought parts from them never ;—
What month shall we homeward repair ?

✦ ✦ ✦

The troops of Chow, kept on duty in Shin, murmur at their separation from their families.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VI).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/65/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VI).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/65/.

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