New Tower

New Tower

Preface: "New Tower" is a poem satirizing Duke Xuan of Wei. Duke Xuan of Wei took the wife of his heir apparent Ji, and built a new tower by the Yellow River to welcome her. The people of the state detested his conduct, and thus composed this poem.

The new tower is so bright and splendid, the Yellow River's waters surge and spread. He sought a gentle and harmonious mate, but met with a stooped and hunchbacked wretch.

The new tower is so lofty and clean, the Yellow River's waters flow serene. He sought a gentle and harmonious mate, but met with a stooped and hunchbacked wretch.

He cast his net to catch a fish, but a wild goose fell into the mesh. He sought a gentle and harmonious mate, but met with a toad-like, ugly wretch.

The New Tower has three stanzas, each of four lines.