[updated September 2022]
Crane Feelings
感 鹤
鹤 有 不 群 者
飞 飞 在 野 田。
饥 不 啄 腐 鼠
渴 不 饮 盗 泉。
贞 姿 自 耿 介
杂 鸟 何 翩 翩。
同 游 不 同 志
如 此 十 欲 念。
一 兴 嗜 欲 念
遂 为 矰 绞 牵。
委 质 小 池 内
争 食 群 鸡 前。
不 惟 怀 稻 粱
兼 亦 竟 腥 膻。
不 惟 恋 主 人
兼 亦 狭 乌 鹭。
物 心 不 可 知
天 性 有 时 迁。
一 饱 尚 如 此
况 承 大 夫 轩。
Gan He
He you bu qun zhe
Fei fei zai ye tian.
Ji bu zhuo fu shu
Ke bu yi dao quan.
Zhen zi zi geng jie.
Za niao he pian pian
Tong you bu tong zhi
Ru ci shi yu nian.
Yi xing shi yu nian
Sui wei zeng jiao qian.
Wei zhi xiao chi nei
Zheng shi qun ji qian.
Bu wei huai dao liang
Jian yi jing xing shan.
Bu wei lian zhu ren
Jian yi xia wu lu.
Wu xin bu ke zhi
Tian xing you si qian.
Yi bao shang ru ci
Kuang cheng da fu xuan.
Crane Feelings
Cranes do not like to live in flocks
They fly around and inhabit open country fields.
When hungry they do not feast on carrion
When thirsty they do not have to steal water.
They are naturally loyal, honest and upright
What other bird can be so graceful and elegant.
But when associating with those of different interests for ten years or more
One dysfunctional obsession develops, making one vulnerable to blackmail.
Small ponds of inferior quality
They struggle for food with the strong pushing aside the weak.
Now willing to eat stolen food and foul-smelling fish
Now willing to forsake their spouse and carouse with ladies of the night.
Things of the heart difficult to know
Natural instincts sometimes change.
Bird’s obsessions involve the filling of one’s stomach only
For most, senior officials take a ride in curtained carriages.