What is the oldest collection of Chinese poetry?

That's quite a big topic. Where should we start? Maybe the very beginning, that's the poem. The first book is called The Book of Odes

or The Book of Songs or The Ancient Chinese Classic of Poetry, just different translations. In China, songs and poetry ARE conneted, we wrote, and still write a song for a beautiful poem, and sing it. There are two most famous poems in the classic book below: GUAN SUI

Guan-guan go the ospreys ,

On the islet in the river .

The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --

For our prince a good mate she .

Here long , there short , is the duckweed ,

To the left , to the right , borne about by the current .

The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --

Waking and sleeping , he sought her .

He sought her and found her not ,

And waking and sleeping he thought about her .

Long he thought ; oh ! long and anxiously ;

On his side , on his back , he turned , and back again .

Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;

On the left , on the right , we gather it .

The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --

With lutes , small and large , let us give her friendly welcome .

Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;

On the left , on the right , we cook and present it .

The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --

With bells and drums let us show our delight in her .

Heavn Hight

Heavn high!

I will love u,

For all the years to pass by!

Only when the mountains lose their ridges

The rivers run dry

The thunder rumbles in winter

The snow falls in summer

And the earth is combined with the sky

Will my love for u possiblly die!

OK, it's just the beginning dated at about 1100 B.C.