| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | On Barbarous Modern Instruments | | By Arthur Waley, trans. |
| | From “Chinese Poems”
Po Chü-i—Eighth and Ninth Centuries
OF cord and cassia-wood is the harp compounded. | |
| Within it lie ancient melodies— | |
| Ancient melodies, weak and savorless, | |
| Not appealing to present men’s taste. | |
| Light and color are faded from its jade stops; | 5 |
| Dust has covered its rose-red strings: | |
| Decay and ruin came to it long ago. | |
| But the sound that is left is still cold and clear, | |
| And I do not refuse to play it to you. | |
| But even if I play, people won’t listen. | 10 |
| |
| How did it come to be neglected so? | |
| It was because of the Ch’iang flute and the Ch’in flageolet. | | | | |
|
|
