Plucking Licorice
by Frank Watson
Plucking licorice, plucking licorice—
Will you do it at the mountain top?
Men will talk
But how can you believe?

House of silk, house of silk—
Be wary of their promises.
Men will talk
But what will you receive?

Plucking herbs, plucking herbs—
Will you do it at the mountain base?
Men will talk
But what will you concede?

House of silk, house of silk—
Be wary of their promises.
Men will talk
But what will you receive?

Plucking turnips, plucking turnips—
Will you do it at the mountain east?
Men will talk
But then they won’t succeed.

House of silk, house of silk—
Be wary of their promises.
Men will talk
But what will you receive?



From the anonymous Chinese poem.







Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
采苓
采苓
cǎi líng



采苓采苓，
采苓采苓，
cǎi líng cǎi líng ，
首陽之巔。
首阳之巅。
shǒu yáng zhī diān 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
茍亦無信。
苟亦无信。
gǒu yì wú xìn 。
舍旃舍旃，
舍旃舍旃，
shè zhān shè zhān ，
茍亦無然。
苟亦无然。
gǒu yì wú rán 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
胡得焉？
胡得焉？
hú dé yān ？
采苦采苦，
采苦采苦，
cǎi kǔ cǎi kǔ ，
首陽之下。
首阳之下。
shǒu yáng zhī xià 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
茍亦無與。
苟亦无与。
gǒu yì wú yǔ 。
舍旃舍旃，
舍旃舍旃，
shè zhān shè zhān ，
茍亦無然。
苟亦无然。
gǒu yì wú rán 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
胡得焉？
胡得焉？
hú dé yān ？
采葑采葑，
采葑采葑，
cǎi fēng cǎi fēng ，
首陽之東。
首阳之东。
shǒu yáng zhī dōng 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
茍亦無從。
苟亦无从。
gǒu yì wú cóng。
舍旃舍旃，
舍旃舍旃，
shè zhān shè zhān ，
茍亦無然。
苟亦无然。
gǒu yì wú rán 。
人之為言，
人之为言，
rén zhī wéi yán ，
胡得焉？
胡得焉？
hú dé yān？





Translation Notes


采苓
Plucking Licorice


采苓采苓，
Plucking licorice plucking licorice,
首陽之巔。
Head sun of mountain-top.
[Head sun is the name of a mountain, Shouyang]
人之為言，
Person him does speech,
茍亦無信。
Cautious also no trust.
[Means “must not easily trust”]
舍旃舍旃，
House silk-banner house silk-banner,
茍亦無然。
Cautious also no promise.
人之為言，
Person him does speech,
胡得焉？
Foolishly obtain how?
[Foolishly obtain = What place to take?]
采苦采苦，
Plucking bitter plucking bitter,
[Bitter = bitter vegetables]
首陽之下。
Head sun of beneath.
人之為言，
Person him does speech,
茍亦無與。
Cautious also no give.
舍旃舍旃，
House silk-banner house silk-banner,
茍亦無然。
Cautious also no pledge.
人之為言，
Person him does speech,
胡得焉？
Foolishly obtain how?
采葑采葑，
Plucking turnip plucking turnip,
首陽之東。
Head sun of east.
人之為言，
Person him does speech,
茍亦無從。
Cautious also no from,
[No from = beyond one’s capability]
舍旃舍旃，
House silk-banner house silk-banner,
茍亦無然。
Cautious also no correct.
人之為言，
Person him does speech
胡得焉？
Recklessly obtain why?

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