History & Politics
The Campaign against Wu (1)
Translated by Arthur Waley (1918) · From A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918)
My charioteer hastens to yoke my carriage,
For I must go on a journey far away.
“Where are you going on your journey far away?”
To the land of Wu where my enemies are.
But I must ride many thousand miles,
Beyond the Eastern Road that leads to Wu.
Between the rivers bitter winds blow,
Swiftly flow the waters of Huai and Ssŭ.
I want to take a skiff and cross these rivers,
But alas for me, where shall I find a boat?
To sit idle is not my desire:
Gladly enough would I go to my country’s aid.
Cite this poem
MLA
Wēn-ti, Wei. “The Campaign against Wu (1).” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wei-wen-ti/1/.
Chicago
Wēn-ti, Wei. “The Campaign against Wu (1).” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wei-wen-ti/1/.
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