In the field there is a dead doe,
by Frank Watson
In the field there is a dead doe,
The grass reeds wrap around it;
A girl yearns for love
And a lucky man has taken her.
 
The forest has a simple shrub,
The field has a dead deer;
Grass reeds bundle easily
To carry her like jade.
 
“Undress me gently—
Do not touch my shawl
Or cause the long-haired dog to bark.”

 
 
Original Chinese
 
Traditional
 
Simplified
 
Pronunciation
 
野有死麇
野有死麇
yě yǒu sǐ jūn
 
 
 
野有死麇，
野有死麇，
yě yǒu sǐ jūn ，
白茅包之；
白茅包之；
bái máo bāo zhī ;
有女懷春，
有女怀春，
yǒu nǚ huái chūn ，
吉士誘之。
吉士诱之。
jí shì yòu zhī 。
林有樸樕，
林有朴樕，
lín yǒu pǔ sù ，
野有死鹿；
野有死鹿；
yě yǒu sǐ lù ;
白茅純束，
白茅纯束，
bái máo chún shù ，
有女如玉。
有女如玉。
yǒu nǚ rú yù 。
舒而脫脫兮，
舒而脱脱兮，
shū ér tuō tuō xī ，
無感我帨兮，
无感我帨兮，
wú gǎn wǒ shuì xī ，
無使尨也吠。
无使尨也吠。
wú shǐ lóng yě fèi。
 

 
Translation Notes
 
Anonymous, from the Classic of Poetry.
 
野有死麇
Field has dead doe
 
 
野有死麇，
Field has dead doe
白茅包之；
White reeds wrap it;
[White reeds = cogon grass, used as thatching material]
有女懷春，
Has girl breast spring,
[Breast spring = a girl yearning for love]
吉士誘之。
Lucky gentleman seduced her.
林有樸樕，
Forest has simple shrub,
野有死鹿；
Field has dead deer;
白茅純束，
White reeds simple bind,
有女如玉。
Has woman like jade.
舒而脫脫兮，
Unfold and take-off strip ah,
無感我帨兮，
No touch my shawl ah,
無使尨也吠。
No cause shaggy-haired-dog also bark.
 


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