The one I love
is south of the sea.
What gift can I send him? _
a hair-clasp of tortoise shell,
set with paired pearls,
and wound all about with jade.

Then I heard that his heart had changed,
I broke it and burned it in a pile,
broke and burned it,
Threw the ash to the wind.
From this day on,
no more longing, no more love,
my love for him is done.

When roosters crow and the dogs all bark,
my brother, his wife will know,
tra-la-la,
the autumn winds howl, the pheasants shrill,
soon the east will grow bright
and all will be known.

The One I Love (120 a.C.), poesia do gabinete de música (Yue-fu) do governo Han, tradução para o inglês de Stephen Owen