Arthur Waley, trans. On Seeing Swallows in His Prison-cell. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

On Seeing Swallows in His Prison-cell

By Arthur Waley, trans.


From “Chinese Poems” Wang Tzu-tuan—Thirteenth Century YOU laugh at my clumsiness in falling into the trap of disaster.
I sigh at your thoughtlessness in entering my round window.
The falling leaves are blown and soaked by the east wind and rain;
But you could have sheltered easily enough under the eaves of any roof.