Brave Lord
by Frank Watson
Brave, brave lord,

The nation’s cruel master—

Holding a spear

And spurring on fear.


Coming from the east

With hair like wild weeds—

Unbathed, unclean,

Who matches the scene?


Rain, rain,

Shine, shine,

The sun comes out:

He wants sweet words throughout.


But what is gained from lying weeds?

Our lord wants seeds

That planted, will soon betray,

For they come from our hearts’ dismay.




After the anonymous Chinese poem

Original Chinese


Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
伯兮
伯兮
bó xī



伯兮朅兮，
伯兮朅兮，
bó xī qiè xī ，

邦之桀兮。
邦之桀兮。
bāng zhī jié xī 。
伯也執殳，
伯也执殳，
bó yě zhí shū ，

為王前驅。
为王前驱。
wéi wáng qián qū 。
自伯之東，
自伯之东，
zì bó zhī dōng ，

首如飛蓬。
首如飞蓬。
shǒu rú fēi péng 。
豈無膏沐？
岂无膏沐？
qǐ wú gāo mù ？
誰適為容！
谁适为容！
shuí shì wéi róng ！
其雨其雨，
其雨其雨，
qí yǔ qí yǔ ，
杲杲出日。
杲杲出日。
gǎo gǎo chū rì 。
願言思伯，
愿言思伯，
yuàn yán sī bó ，

甘心首疾。
甘心首疾。
gān xīn shǒu jí 。
焉得諼草？
焉得谖草？
yān dé xuān cǎo ？
言樹之背。
言树之背。
yán shù zhī bèi 。
願言思伯，
愿言思伯，
yuàn yán sī bó ，

使我心痗。
使我心痗。
shǐ wǒ xīn mèi。


Translation Notes



伯兮
Count Xi


伯兮朅兮，
Count xi brave xi,
邦之桀兮。
Nation ’s cruel xi.
伯也執殳，
Count also grasps spear,
為王前驅。
Behaves-as king in-front spurs.
自伯之東，
From count its east,
首如飛蓬。
Head as-if flying fleabane.
豈無膏沐？
How no ointment bathe?
誰適為容！
Who matches becomes appearance!
其雨其雨，
Such rain such rain,
杲杲出日。
Shine shine goes-out sun.
願言思伯，
Desire words thinks count,
甘心首疾。
Sweet heart head hate/disease.

[Sweet heart = resign oneself to, be willing to]
焉得諼草？
How gain lies weeds?

[Lies weeds = daylily]
言樹之背。
Words plant it betrays
願言思伯，
Desire words thinks count,
使我心痗。
Cause our heart anxious.


All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013