Northern Mountain
by Frank Watson
I climbed the northern mountain
And plucked a willow tree.
I’ve been sturdy as a man,
Working from dawn to dusk.

Now my work is shattered
And my family is sad.

I can live no more
Under the vast blue sky;
There is nowhere between the seas
For me to serve the king.

None of this is right,
For I alone was blamed.
Now I have nowhere to go
Within the royal sphere.

Still, I am young
And fit for this journey
To a harsh region
At the end of our land.

Maybe I’ll rest peacefully,
Exhausted from worldly affairs.

Maybe I’ll lie on a couch,
Never to finish my travels.

Maybe I’ll think not of revenge
And toil instead in wretched labor.

Maybe I’ll swim without raising my head,
And lose this burden upon my back.

Maybe I’ll drink in joy,
Not fearing mistakes.

Or maybe I’ll talk to the wind
And do nothing at all.



[Translated from an anonymous poem in the Shijing]

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
北山
北山
běi shān



陟彼北山，
陟彼北山，
zhì bǐ běi shān ，
言采其杞。
言采其杞。
yán cǎi qí qǐ 。
偕偕士子，
偕偕士子，
xié xié shì zǐ ，
朝夕從事。
朝夕从事。
zhāo xī cóng shì 。
王事靡盬，
王事靡盬，
wáng shì mí gǔ ，
憂我父母。
忧我父母。
yōu wǒ fù mǔ 。
溥天之下，
溥天之下，
pǔ tiān zhī xià ，
莫非王土。
莫非王土。
mò fēi wáng tǔ 。
率土之濱，
率土之滨，
shuài tǔ zhī bīn ，
莫非王臣。
莫非王臣。
mò fēi wáng chén 。
大夫不均，
大夫不均，
dà fū bù jūn ，
我從事獨賢。
我从事独贤。
wǒ cóng shì dú xián 。
四牡彭彭，
四牡彭彭，
sì mǔ péng péng ，
王事傍傍。
王事傍傍。
wáng shì bàng bàng 。
嘉我未老，
嘉我未老，
jiā wǒ wèi lǎo ，
鮮我方將。
鲜我方将。
xiān wǒ fāng jiāng 。
旅力方剛，
旅力方刚，
lǚ lì fāng gāng ，
經營四方。
经营四方。
jīng yíng sì fāng 。
或燕燕居息，
或燕燕居息，
huò yàn yàn jū xī ，
或盡瘁事國。
或尽瘁事国。
huò jìn cuì shì guó 。
或息偃在床，
或息偃在床，
huò xī yǎn zài chuáng ，
或不已於行。
或不已于行。
huò bù yǐ yú xíng 。
或不知叫號，
或不知叫号，
huò bù zhī jiào hào ，
或慘慘劬勞。
或惨惨劬劳。
huò cǎn cǎn qú láo 。
或棲遲偃仰，
或栖迟偃仰，
huò qī chí yǎn yǎng ，
或王事鞅掌。
或王事鞅掌。
huò wáng shì yāng zhǎng 。
或湛樂飲酒，
或湛乐饮酒，
huò zhàn lè yǐn jiǔ ，
或慘慘畏咎。
或惨惨畏咎。
huò cǎn cǎn wèi jiù 。
或出入風議，
或出入风议，
huò chū rù fēng yì ，
或靡事不為。
或靡事不为。
huò mí shì bù wéi。









Translation Notes


北山
Northern Mountain


陟彼北山，
Climb that northern mountain,
言采其杞。
I gather its willow.
偕偕士子，
Together together gentleman offspring,
[Together together = sturdy appearance]
[Gentleman offspring = scholar or official]
朝夕從事。
Morning evening from matters.
[From matters = undertake, handle, engage in]
王事靡盬，
King affairs scatter salt-pit,
憂我父母。
Sad my father mother.
溥天之下，
Vast sky ’s under,
莫非王土。
Cannot not king soil.
[Cannot not = can it be, could it be possible that]
率土之濱，
Follow/from soil its sea-coast/horizon,
莫非王臣。
Cannot not king minister.
大夫不均，
Big man no fair,
[Big man = minister of state]
[No fair = distributed unevenly]
我從事獨賢。
I from incident alone difficult.
四牡彭彭，
Four male-of-animals cannot-breathe cannot-breathe,
王事傍傍。
King affairs endless endless.
嘉我未老，
Praised I not-yet aged,
鮮我方將。
Important I region sturdy.
旅力方剛，
Trip strength region tough,
[Trip strength = bodily strength, physical power]
經營四方。
Pass-through encampment four region.
[Pass-through encampment = engage in]
[Four region = four-sided]
或燕燕居息，
Maybe restful-appearance restful-appearance dwell rest,
或盡瘁事國。
Maybe exhaust worn-out affairs nation.
或息偃在床，
Maybe rest lie-supine on couch,
或不已於行。
Maybe no finished at travel.
[No finished = endlessly]
或不知叫號，
Maybe no know cry roar,
[No know = figuratively, not to admit]
[Cry roar = call for revenge]
或慘慘劬勞。
May wretched pitiful toil labor.
[Wretched pitiful = worried appearance]
或棲遲偃仰，
Maybe stay late cease raise-the-head-to-look,
[Stay late = swim and breathe]
或王事鞅掌。
Maybe king affairs harness palm-of-hand.
[Harness = carry a burden on one’s back]
[Palm-of-hand = offer with both hands]
[One explanation is not having time to fix one’s appearance]
或湛樂飲酒，
Maybe joy happy drink wine,
或慘慘畏咎。
Maybe wretched pitiful fear mistake.
或出入風議，
Maybe go-out join wind discuss,
[Go-out join = go out and come in]
[Wind discuss = release words, meaning to “talk big” or use pompous words]
或靡事不為。
Maybe extravagent affairs no do.

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