The Little Stars

Little Stars

Preface: The poem "Little Stars" speaks of grace extending to those of lowly station. The wife harbors no jealousy, and her grace reaches the lowly concubines, allowing them to attend and serve their lord. It also teaches that one knows the distinction between nobility and baseness in human fate, and can fulfill one's own duty.

Tiny twinkling little stars,

Three or five hang in the east.

Hurrying along the night road,

Early and late I toil for public tasks—

Truly, our lots are not the same!

Tiny twinkling little stars,

They are the stars Shen and Mao.

Hurrying along the night road,

Carrying my quilt and bed-curtains—

Truly, my lot is less than others'!

Little Stars has two stanzas, each of five lines.