White Colt (anonymous, from the Shijing)
by Frank Watson
This poem is addressed to a lord who wants to flee the duties of government to retire and live in ease, comparing him to a white colt that wants to run away.


White, white colt
Eatings my sprouts—
Tie it, tie it
Make it stay all day:
Who is this person
That wanders away?

White, white colt
Eating my beans—
Tie it, tie it
Make it stay all night:
Who is this person
That travels alight?

White, white colt
Coming with fire—
My lord, it is you
Who flees for leisure,
Traveling with care,
Hiding desires.

White, white colt
In the empty valley.
The man’s a jewel—
His life is bound
By neither gold nor jade,
For his heart is far away.

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
白駒
白驹
bái jū



皎皎白駒，
皎皎白驹，
jiǎo jiǎo bái jū ，
食我場苗。
食我场苗。
shí wǒ cháng miáo 。
縶之維之，
絷之维之，
zhí zhī wéi zhī ，
以永今朝。
以永今朝。
yǐ yǒng jīn zhāo 。
所謂伊人，
所谓伊人，
suǒ wèi yī rén ，
於焉逍遙。
於焉逍遥。
yū yān xiāo yáo 。
皎皎白駒，
皎皎白驹，
jiǎo jiǎo bái jū ，
食我場藿。
食我场藿。
shí wǒ cháng huò 。
縶之維之，
絷之维之，
zhí zhī wéi zhī ，
以永今夕。
以永今夕。
yǐ yǒng jīn xī 。
所謂伊人，
所谓伊人，
suǒ wèi yī rén ，
於焉嘉客。
於焉嘉客。
yū yān jiā kè 。
皎皎白駒，
皎皎白驹，
jiǎo jiǎo bái jū ，
賁然來思。
贲然来思。
bì rán lái sī 。
爾公爾侯，
尔公尔侯，
ěr gōng ěr hóu ，
逸豫無期。
逸豫无期。
yì yù wú qī 。
慎爾優遊，
慎尔优游，
shèn ěr yōu yóu ，
勉爾遁思。
勉尔遁思。
miǎn ěr dùn sī 。
皎皎白駒，
皎皎白驹，
jiǎo jiǎo bái jū ，
在彼空谷。
在彼空谷。
zài bǐ kōng gǔ 。
生芻一束，
生刍一束，
shēng chú yī shù ，
其人如玉。
其人如玉。
qí rén rú yù 。
毋金玉爾音，
毋金玉尔音，
wú jīn yù ěr yīn ，
而有遐心。
而有遐心。
ér yǒu xiá xīn。





Translation Notes


白駒
White Colt


皎皎白駒，
Bright bright white colt,
食我場苗。
Eats my field sprouts.
縶之維之，
Tie it tie it,
以永今朝。
Thereby long this morning.
所謂伊人，
Place calls that person,
[Place calls = what is called; so-called]
於焉逍遙。
Alas! here stroll far-away.
[Stroll far-away = free and unfettered]
皎皎白駒，
Bright bright white colt,
食我場藿。
Eats my field beans.
縶之維之，
Tie it tie it,
以永今夕。
Thereby long this evening.
所謂伊人，
Place call that person,
於焉嘉客。
Alas! here excellent traveler.
皎皎白駒，
Bright bright white colt,
賁然來思。
Vigorous certainly come think.
爾公爾侯，
You gentleman you lord,
逸豫無期。
Escape at-ease no period-of-time.
[Escape at-east = idleness and pleasure]
[No period-of-time = indefinite future]
慎爾優遊，
Act-with-care you superior travel,
勉爾遁思。
Restrain-speech you hide think.
皎皎白駒，
Bright bright white colt,
在彼空谷。
At that deserted valley.
生芻一束，
Life now one bind,
其人如玉。
That man like jade.
毋金玉爾音，
Do-not gold jade you  pronounce,
而有遐心。
And have distant heart.
[Distant heart = desire to live in retirement]

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