Northern Wind
by Frank Watson
Hand in hand I travel,
Torrential rain and snow—
The northern wind is cold
And so my joy does grow.
Is it all in vain? Am I wrong?
No—for I am left alone.

Hand in hand returning,
Falling rain and snow:
The northern wind has melody,
And so my joy does grow.
Is it all in vain? Am I wrong?
No—for I am left alone.

There are no bandits, red as a fox,
There are no bandits, black as a crow—
And so my joy does grow
As I walk together with my cart.
Is it all in vain? Am I wrong?
No—for I am left alone.


 [Anonymous, from the Shijing]

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
北風
北风
běi fēng



北風其涼，
北风其凉，
běi fēng qí liáng ，
雨雪其滂。
雨雪其滂。
yǔ xuě qí pāng 。
惠而好我，
惠而好我，
huì ér hǎo wǒ ，
攜手同行。
携手同行。
xié shǒu tóng xíng 。
其虛其邪？
其虚其邪？
qí xū qí xié ？
既亟隻且！
既亟只且！
jì jí zhī qiě ！
北風其喈，
北风其喈，
běi fēng qí jiē ，
雨雪其霏。
雨雪其霏。
yǔ xuě qí fēi 。
惠而好我，
惠而好我，
huì ér hǎo wǒ ，
攜手同歸。
携手同归。
xié shǒu tóng guī 。
其虛其邪？
其虚其邪？
qí xū qí xié ？
既亟隻且！
既亟只且！
jì jí zhī qiě ！
莫赤匪狐，
莫赤匪狐，
mò chì fěi hú ，
莫黑匪烏。
莫黑匪乌。
mò hēi fěi wū 。
惠而好我，
惠而好我，
huì ér hǎo wǒ ，
攜手同車。
携手同车。
xié shǒu tóng chē 。
其虛其邪？
其虚其邪？
qí xū qí xié ？
既亟隻且！
既亟只且！
jì jí zhī qiě！





Translation Notes


北風
Northern Wind


北風其涼，
Northern wind its cool,
[“Northern” can also mean “be defeated” in classical Chinese]
雨雪其滂。
Rain snow its torrential.
惠而好我，
Favor and/yet fond I,
攜手同行。
Lead-by-hand hand same travel.
[The four character phrase means “to walk hand in hand” or “to cooperate”]
其虛其邪？
Its in-vain its wrong?
既亟隻且！
Both urgent lone moreover!
北風其喈，
Northern wind its melody,
雨雪其霏。
Rain snow its falling.
惠而好我，
Favor and/yet fond I,
攜手同歸。
Lead hand same return.
其虛其邪？
Its in-vain its wrong?
既亟隻且！
Both urgent lone also!
莫赤匪狐，
There-is-none-who red bandits fox,
莫黑匪烏。
There-is-none-who black bandits crow.
惠而好我，
Favor and/yet fond I,
攜手同車。
Lead hand together-with cart.
其虛其邪？
Its in-vain its wrong?
既亟隻且！
Both urgent lone also.




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