Cold Blows the North Wind

北風其涼、雨雪其雱。
惠而好我、攜手同行。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

北風其喈、雨雪其霏。
惠而好我、攜手同歸。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

莫赤匪狐、莫黑匪烏。
惠而好我、攜手同車。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

Cold blows the north wind;
Thick falls the snow.
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands and go together.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

The north wind whistles;
The snow falls and drifts about.
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands, and go away for ever.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

Nothing is redder than the fox,
Nothing blacker than the crow.
[Nothing is more true than I].
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands, and go together in our carriages.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

《北風 – Cold Blows the North Wind》from 《詩經 – The Book of Poetry》. English translation by James Legge (modified).

Such a beautiful poem!

Author: Jonathan Y. H. Sim

Jonathan Sim is an Instructor with the Department of Philosophy at the National University of Singapore. He is passionate about teaching and he continues to research fun and innovative ways of engaging students to learn effectively. He has been teaching general education modules to a diverse range of undergraduate students and adult learners at the University. View all posts by Jonathan Y. H. Sim