Abandoned Birchleaf | PoetryNook

Year

Wed, 2013-06-26 12:00

The birchleaf stands alone,

Now ripe with fruit full grown.

The king’s work must be done,

On every day, in every sun.

So many suns and moons,

My heartfelt female wounds:

But can he come back soon?

The birchleaf stands alone

With leaves now plush and grown.

The king’s work must be done

So I grieve for my loved one.

Plants and trees all strewn,

My heartfelt female wounds:

But will he come back soon?

I climb the mountain teary

To gather some wolfberries.

The king’s work must be done,

So your parents miss their son.

The slave cart you’re in is shabby

And the animals are ratty:

But my traveler’s journey has begun.

Haven’t packed, haven’t come;

My grieving heart is numb.

The time has passed, he isn’t here:

Have pity on my fear.

I gather a reed to divine

And it gives a telling sign:

My traveling man is near.

Original Chinese

Traditional	Simplified	Pronunciation
杕杜	杕杜	dì dù

有杕之杜，	有杕之杜，	yǒu dì zhī dù ，
有睆其實。	有睆其实。	yǒu huàn qí shí 。
王事靡盬，	王事靡盬，	wáng shì mí gǔ ，
繼嗣我日。	继嗣我日。	jì sì wǒ rì 。
日月陽止，	日月阳止，	rì yuè yáng zhǐ ，
女之傷止，	女之伤止，	nǚ zhī shāng zhǐ ，
征夫遑止。	征夫遑止。	zhēng fū huáng zhǐ 。
有杕之杜，	有杕之杜，	yǒu dì zhī dù ，
其葉萋萋。	其叶萋萋。	qí yè qī qī 。
王事靡盬，	王事靡盬，	wáng shì mí gǔ ，
我心傷悲。	我心伤悲。	wǒ xīn shāng bēi 。
卉木萋止，	卉木萋止，	huì mù qī zhǐ ，
女心悲止，	女心悲止，	nǚ xīn bēi zhǐ ，
征夫歸止。	征夫归止。	zhēng fū guī zhǐ 。
陴彼北山，	陴彼北山，	pī bǐ běi shān ，
言采其杞。	言采其杞。	yán cǎi qí qǐ 。
王事靡盬，	王事靡盬，	wáng shì mí gǔ ，
憂我父母。	忧我父母。	yōu wǒ fù mǔ 。
檀車幝幝，	檀车幝幝，	tán chē chǎn chǎn ，
四牡痯痯，	四牡痯痯，	sì mǔ guǎn guǎn ，
征夫不遠。	征夫不远。	zhēng fū bù yuǎn 。
匪載匪來，	匪载匪来，	fěi zài fěi lái ，
憂心孔疚。	忧心孔疚。	yōu xīn kǒng jiù 。
期逝不至，	期逝不至，	qī shì bù zhì ，
而多為恤。	而多为恤。	ér duō wéi xù 。
蔔筮偕止，	卜筮偕止，	bǔ shì xié zhǐ ，
會言近止，	会言近止，	huì yán jìn zhǐ ，
征夫邇止。	征夫迩止。	zhēng fū ěr zhǐ。

Translation Notes

This poem tells of thinking of a traveler and longing for his early return.

杕杜	Lone-Standing Birchleaf-Pear

有杕之杜，	Is alone that birchleaf-pear,
有睆其實。	Is solid-appearance its true. [Solid-appearance = full of ripe fruit] [Its true = actually, in fact]
王事靡盬，	King affairs extravagant/wasted leisure,
繼嗣我日。	Replenish heirs our sun.
日月陽止，	Sun moon yang/sun stop,
女之傷止，	Woman ’s wound stop,
征夫遑止。	Conquer man leisure stop. [Conquer man = traveler, soldier on expedition]
有杕之杜，	Is alone that birchleaf-pear,
其葉萋萋。	Its leaves luxuriant luxuriant.
王事靡盬，	King affairs scatter leisure,
我心傷悲。	Our heart wounded sorrow.
卉木萋止，	Plants trees foliage stop,
女心悲止，	Woman heart sorrow stop,
征夫歸止。	Conquer man return stop.
陴彼北山，	Parapet that north mountain,
言采其杞。	Says gather that wolfberry.
王事靡盬，	King affairs scatter leisure,
憂我父母。	Grieved our father mother.
檀車幝幝，	Sandalwood forced-labor-car shabby shabby,
四牡痯痯，	Four male-animals weary weary,
征夫不遠。	Conquer man not far.
匪載匪來，	Not carry not come,
憂心孔疚。	Grieved heart hole disease.
期逝不至，	Period-of-time pass-away no reach,
而多為恤。	And much do show-pity.
蔔筮偕止，	Radish divining-rod excellent stop,
會言近止，	Gather words near stop,
征夫邇止。	Conquer man be-near stop.

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