Goose Feathers
by Frank Watson
Flap flap — wild geese
That burst from oaks and other trees;
The ruler rests, he does not reign,
And now we cannot grow our grain.
Father, mother—why persist?
Long, long, the blue arc sky,
But where is a place of mine?

Flap flap — wild geese
That burst from jujubes;
The ruler rests, he does not reign,
And now we cannot grow our grain.
Father, mother—how to eat?
Long, long, the blue arc sky,
And where is the finish line?

Flap flap — wild geese
That burst from mulberry trees;
The ruler rests, he does not suffice,
And now we cannot grow our rice.
Father, mother—how to taste?
Long, long, the blue arc sky,
But when will things be fine?
[Anonymous, from the Shijing]

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
鴇羽
鸨羽
bǎo yǔ



肅肅鴇羽，
肃肃鸨羽，
sù sù bǎo yǔ ，
集於苞栩。
集于苞栩。
jí yú bāo xǔ 。
王事靡盬，
王事靡盬，
wáng shì mí gǔ ，
不能兿稷黍。
不能兿稷黍。
bù néng yì jì shǔ 。
父母何怙？
父母何怙？
fù mǔ hé hù ？
悠悠蒼天！
悠悠苍天！
yōu yōu cāng tiān ！
曷其有所？
曷其有所？
hé qí yǒu suǒ ？
肅肅鴇翼，
肃肃鸨翼，
sù sù bǎo yì ，
集於苞棘。
集于苞棘。
jí yú bāo jí 。
王事靡盬，
王事靡盬，
wáng shì mí gǔ ，
不能兿黍稷。
不能兿黍稷。
bù néng yì shǔ jì 。
父母何食？
父母何食？
fù mǔ hé shí ？
悠悠蒼天！
悠悠苍天！
yōu yōu cāng tiān ！
曷其有極？
曷其有极？
hé qí yǒu jí ？
肅肅鴇行，
肃肃鸨行，
sù sù bǎo xíng ，
集於苞桑。
集于苞桑。
jí yú bāo sāng 。
王事靡盬，
王事靡盬，
wáng shì mí gǔ ，
不能兿稻粱。
不能兿稻粱。
bù néng yì dào liáng 。
父母何嘗？
父母何尝？
fù mǔ hé cháng ？
悠悠蒼天！
悠悠苍天！
yōu yōu cāng tiān ！
曷其有常？
曷其有常？
hé qí yǒu cháng？





Translation Notes


鴇羽
Bustard Feathers
[Bustard is a kind of bird, similar to a wild goose]


肅肅鴇羽，
Flap flap bustard feathers,
集於苞栩。
Assemble at to-burst-forth hidden-oak-cluster.
王事靡盬，
King affairs scatter leisure,
不能兿稷黍。
No can to-grow/plant god-of-cereals millet.
父母何怙？
Father mother why persist-in?
悠悠蒼天！
Long long blue sky!
曷其有所？
Where his own place?
肅肅鴇翼，
Flap flap bustard wings,
集於苞棘。
Gather in to-burst-forth jujube-tree.
王事靡盬，
King affairs scatter leisure,
不能兿黍稷。
No can to-grow/plant millet god-of-cereals.
父母何食？
Father mother how eat?
悠悠蒼天！
Long long blue sky!
曷其有極？
Where its own final?
肅肅鴇行，
Flap flap bustard goes,
集於苞桑。
Gather in to-burst-forth mulberry-tree.
王事靡盬，
King affairs scatter leisure,
不能兿稻粱。
No can to-grow/plant rice-plant millet.
父母何嘗？
Father mother how taste?
悠悠蒼天！
Long long blue sky!
曷其有常？
How his  have normal?

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