Living

The Koh Luy

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

Living

Around the creepers thickly spread,
On the borders of the Ho.
My native soil no more I tread ;
Into exile forth I go.
Far removed from kindred all,
Father I a stranger call.
Though so called, he does not brook
Kindly upon me to look.

Around the creepers thickly spread,
On the green banks of the Ho.
My native soil no more I tread ;
Into exile forth I go.
Far removed from kindred all,
Mother I a stranger call.
Though so called, she does not deign
Me as child to entertain.”

Around the creepers thickly spread,
On the bank-lips of the Ho.
My native soil no more I tread ;
Into exile forth I go.
Far from all who bear my name,
Elder brother I would claim
In a stranger, but he spurns
Such a claim, and from me turns.

✦ ✦ ✦

A wanderer from Chow, separated from his kin, mourns over his lot.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Koh Luy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/68/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Koh Luy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/68/.

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