Chinese poem illustration: 小雅 白驹/ Xiaoya – White Colt by Anonymous
Full video also available at Bilibili: 小雅 白驹
Poems of Shijing crossed a time span of some 400 years, this poem is very likely a mid-term one. The writing is very smooth and fluid, the 3 pairs in each paragraph is well connected either per its meaning/implication as well as the time sequnce, thus the White Colt(白驹) and That Guy(伊人) confirm each other while the scenarios developing.
The mysterious atmosphere and wording created in this poem That Guy(所谓伊人) was inherited by the most popular Shijing poem Reeds(蒹葭): 所谓伊人, 在水一方. A very popular metaphor on time(白驹过隙) was created per this poem by Zhuangzi(庄子). That is the way the Chinese literature continued till today: inheriting some classic and make new stuff upon.
Two general deciphers toward this poem were briefed as the comparison to my new explanation.
小雅 白驹
佚名
皎皎白驹，食我场苗。
絷之维之，以永今朝。
所谓伊人，于焉逍遥？
皎皎白驹，食我场藿。
絷之维之，以永今夕。
所谓伊人，于焉嘉客？
皎皎白驹，贲然来思。
尔公尔侯，逸豫无期？
慎尔优游，勉尔遁思。
皎皎白驹，在彼空谷。
生刍一束，其人如玉。
毋金玉尔音，而有遐心。
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