A Birchleaf Pear, Alone
by Frank Watson
There is a birchleaf pear
with flourishing leaves. It is alone.
Abandoned, I walk forlorn,
Left to wonder
why there is no one else.
My father is not my father.
Alas! I walk apart—
But why am I not his equal?
My brothers are not my brothers.
They will not help me.

There is a birchleaf pear
that fills with blooms. It is alone.
Without friends or relatives,
I walk forlorn. Why is there
no one else? I am without family.
Alas! I walk apart—
But why am I not their equal?
My brothers are not my brothers.
They will not help me.



From an anonymous poem in the Shijing (Classic of Poetry)


Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
杕杜
杕杜
dì dù



有杕之杜，
有杕之杜，
yǒu dì zhī dù ，
其葉湑湑。
其叶湑湑。
qí yè xǔ xǔ 。
獨行踽踽。
独行踽踽。
dú xíng jǔ jǔ 。
豈無他人？
岂无他人？
qǐ wú tā rén ？
不如我同父。
不如我同父。
bù rú wǒ tóng fù 。
嗟行之人，
嗟行之人，
jiē xíng zhī rén ，
胡不比焉？
胡不比焉？
hú bù bǐ yān ？
人無兄弟，
人无兄弟，
rén wú xiōng dì ，
胡不佽焉？
胡不佽焉？
hú bù cì yān ？
有杕之杜，
有杕之杜，
yǒu dì zhī dù ，
其葉菁菁。
其叶菁菁。
qí yè jīng jīng 。
獨行煢煢。
独行茕茕。
dú xíng qióng qióng 。
豈無他人？
岂无他人？
qǐ wú tā rén？
不如我同姓。
不如我同姓。
bù rú wǒ tóng xìng 。
嗟行之人，
嗟行之人，
jiē xíng zhī rén ，
胡不比焉？
胡不比焉？
hú bù bǐ yān ？
人無兄弟，
人无兄弟，
rén wú xiōng dì ，
胡不佽焉？
胡不佽焉？
hú bù cì yān？




Translation Notes


杕杜
Alone/long-standing-tree Birchleaf-pear


有杕之杜，
Is alone/longstanding-tree it birchleaf-pear,
其葉湑湑。
Its leaves abundant abundant.
獨行踽踽。
Alone walk walk-alone walk-alone.
[Alone walk = solitary]
豈無他人？
How no other person?
不如我同父。
Not like I together-with father.
[Not like = inferior to]
嗟行之人，
Sigh walk him man,
胡不比焉？
Why not to-compare where?
[Not to-compare = unlike]
人無兄弟，
Man not elder-brother younger-brother,
胡不佽焉？
Why not help how?
有杕之杜，
Is alone him birchleaf-pear,
其葉菁菁。
Its leaves flower flower.
獨行煢煢。
Alone walk no-friends-or-relatives no-friends-or-relatives.
豈無他人？
How no other person?
不如我同姓。
Not as-if I together-with family.
嗟行之人，
Alas walk him man,
胡不比焉？
Why not liken how?
人無兄弟，
Person not elder-brother younger-brother,
胡不佽焉？
Why not help why?




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