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Monday, April 24, 2006

The Confucian Odes


From Part II, Elegantiae, or Smaller Odes (Siao Ya) of The Confucian Odes, translated by Ezra Pound:

From Book 7. The Oriole, Sang Hu, IV:

Hot axle, I drove, drove
to my love
hasting,
neither food nor drink
tasting.
I thought of her inwit,
No friends with me
feasting.
Pheasant finds home
in flat forest,
My heart a nest
in her thought
resting.

From Book 8. The Old Capital, Tu Jen Shy, V:

White the marsh flower that white grass bindeth,
my love's afar,
I am alone.

2

White cloud and white dew shun,
amid all flowers, none.
Steep are the steps of heaven
to him unknown.

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