Gathering Wormwood
by Frank Watson
Ah, he gathers wormwood
At the pond,
Doing his master’s work
So he may use it in the palace.

Ah, he gathers wormwood
At the brook,
Doing his master’s work
So he may use it in the palace.

Serving, serving,
He serves from morning till night
To make his master fat and happy,
But all he gets is stingy words.



After the anonymous Chinese poem included in the Shijing (Classic of Poetry), dating from the 10thto 7th centuries B.C.

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
采蘩
采蘩
cǎi fán



於以采蘩，
于以采蘩，
yú yǐ cǎi fán ，
於沼於沚；
于沼于沚；
yú zhǎo yú zhǐ ;
於以用之，
于以用之，
yú yǐ yòng zhī ，
公侯之事。
公侯之事。
gōng hóu zhī shì 。
於以采蘩，
于以采蘩，
yú yǐ cǎi fán ，
於澗之中；
于涧之中；
yú jiàn zhī zhōng ;
於以用之，
于以用之，
yú yǐ yòng zhī ，
公侯之宮。
公侯之宫。
gōng hóu zhī gōng 。
被之僮僮，
被之僮僮，
bèi zhī tóng tóng ，
夙夜在公；
夙夜在公；
sù yè zài gōng ;
被之祁祁，
被之祁祁，
bèi zhī qí qí ，
薄言還歸。
薄言还归。
báo yán huán guī。


Translation Notes


采蘩
Gather Artemisia-stellariana
[Artemesia stellariana is a whitish-light blue/green leafy plant that blooms from July to August, displaying yellow flowers. It is also called Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, and Oldwoman.]


於以采蘩，
Ah! thereby pluck Artemisia,
於沼於沚；
Ah! lake at islet;
於以用之，
Ah! thereby use it,
公侯之事。
Duke lord ’s work.
於以采蘩，
Ah! thereby pluck Artemesia,
於澗之中；
Ah!  brook ’s midst;
於以用之，
Ah! thereby use it,
公侯之宮。
Duke lord ’s palace.
被之僮僮，
By him servant servant,
夙夜在公；
Morning night at duke;
[Morning night = morning and night, at all times]
被之祁祁，
By him ample ample,
薄言還歸。
Stingy words still return.
All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013