Poems by Confucius Confucius

All Poems Original Poems Translations

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A Festal Ode Complimenting An Officer

On dashed my four steeds, without halt, without stay,

Though toilsome and winding from Chow was the way.

I wished to return--but the monarch's command

Forbade that his business be done with slack hand;

And my heart was with sadness oppressed.

On dashed my four steeds; I ne'er slackened the reins.

They snorted and panted--all white, with black manes.

I wished to return, but our sovereign's command

by Confucius Confucius

Appropriate To A Sacrifice To King Wan

My offerings here are given,

A ram, a bull.

Accept them, mighty Heaven,

All-bountiful.

Thy statutes, O great king,

I keep, I love;

So on the realm to bring

Peace from above.

by Confucius Confucius

A Young Soldier On Service

To the top of that tree-clad hill I go,

And towards my father I gaze,

Till with my mind's eye his form I espy,

And my mind's ear hears how he says:--

"Alas for my son on service abroad!

He rests not from morning till eve.

May he careful be and come back to me!

While he is away, how I grieve!"

by Confucius Confucius

An Ode Appropriate To A Festivity

The dew lies heavy all around,

Nor, till the sun shines, leaves the ground.

Far into night we feasting sit;

We drink, and none his place may quit.

The dew lies heavy, and its gems

Stud the luxuriant, grassy stems.

The happy night with wassail rings;

So feasted here the former kings.

by Confucius Confucius

Against Frivolous Pursuits

Like splendid robes appear the wings

Of the ephemeral fly;

And such the pomp of those great men,

Which soon in death shall lie!

I grieve! Would they but come to me!

To teach them I should try.

The wings of the ephemeral fly

Are robes of colors gay;

by Confucius Confucius

A Wife Urging Her Husband To Action

His lady to the marquis says,

"The cock has crowed; 'tis late.

Get up, my lord, and haste to court.

'Tis full; for you they wait."

She did not hear the cock's shrill sound,

Only the blueflies buzzing round.

Again she wakes him with the words,

"The east, my lord, is bright.

by Confucius Confucius

An Officer Deplores The Misery Of The Time

In the fourth month summer shines;

In the sixth the heat declines.

Nature thus grants men relief;

Tyranny gives only grief.

Were not my forefathers men?

Can my suffering 'scape their ken?

In the cold of autumn days

Each plant shrivels and decays.

by Confucius Confucius

The Fruitfulness Of The Locust

Ye locusts, winged tribes,

Gather in concord fine;

Well your descendants may

In numerous bright hosts shine!

Ye locusts, winged tribes,

Your wings in flight resound;

Well your descendants may

In endless lines be found!

by Confucius Confucius

A Wife Bemoans Her Husband's Absence

So full am I of anxious thought,

Though all the morn king-grass I've sought,

To fill my arms I fail.

Like wisp all-tangled is my hair!

To wash it let me home repair.

My lord soon may I hail!

Though 'mong the indigo I've wrought

The morning long; through anxious thought

by Confucius Confucius

An Ode On The Return Of The Troops

Forth from the city in our cars we drove,

Until we halted at the pasture ground.

The general came, and there with ardor strove

A note of zeal throughout the host to sound.

"Direct from court I come, by orders bound

The march to hasten";--it was thus he spake.

Then with the carriage-officers around,

He strictly charged them quick despatch to make:--

by Confucius Confucius

A Wife Deplores The Absence Of Her Husband

Away the startled pheasant flies,

With lazy movement of his wings.

Borne was my heart's lord from my eyes;--

What pain the separation brings!

The pheasant, though no more in view,

His cry, below, above, forth sends.

Alas! my princely lord, 'tis you--

Your absence, that my bosom rends.

by Confucius Confucius

Celebrating A Hunting Expedition

Our chariots were well-built and firm,

Well-matched our steeds, and fleet and strong.

Four, sleek and large, each chariot drew,

And eastward thus we drove along.

Our hunting cars were light and good,

Each with its team of noble steeds.

Still further east we took the way

To Foo-mere's grassy plains that leads.

by Confucius Confucius