Classic Poem

Zip, zip the valley wind,
Bringing darkness, bringing rain.
" Strive to be of one mind;
Let there be no anger between you. "
He who plucks greens, plucks cabbage
Does not judge by the lower parts
In my reputation there is no flaw,
I am yours till death.

Slowly I take the road,
Reluctant at heart
Not far, no, near;
See, you escort me only to the gateway
Who says that sow-thistle is bitter?
It is sweeter than shepherd's-purse.
You feast your new marriage-kin,
As though they were older brothers, were younger brothers.

" It is the Wei that makes the Jing look dirty;
Very clear are its shoals.
You feast your new relations,
And think me no fit company.
" Do not break my dam,
Do not open my fish-traps.
Though for my person you have no regard,
At least pity my brood. "

Where the water was deep
I rafted it, boated it;
Where the water was shallow
I swam it, floated it.
Whether a thing was to be had or no
I strove always to find it.
When any of your people were in trouble
I went on my knees to help them.

Why do you not cherish me,
But rather treat me as an enemy?
You have spoilt my value;
What is used, no merchant will buy.
Once in times of peril, of extremity
With you I shared all troubles.
But now that you are well-nurtured, well-fed,
You treat me as though I were a poison.

I had laid by a good store,
Enough to provide against the winter;
You feast your new kin,
And that provision is eaten up
Then you were violent, were enraged,
And it gave me great pain.
You do not think of the past;
It is only anger that is left.