Living
A Prayer
Translated by Herbert A. Giles (1898) · From Chinese Poetry in English Verse (1898)
Living
Ye fluttering birds in plumage gay
That to and fro direct your flight, —
The Western Mother's court by day,
The far-off" mountain-peaks at night, —
Oh, be my messengers and go
And bear to her these words of mine:
I ask for nothing here below
Save length of years and depth of wine!
Cite this poem
MLA
Ch’ien, T’ao. “A Prayer.” Translated by Herbert A. Giles. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tao-chien/13/.
Chicago
Ch’ien, T’ao. “A Prayer.” Translated by Herbert A. Giles. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tao-chien/13/.
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