Category: Selected Poems of the Simple and Ordinary

Yang Wanli: Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 9

 

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 9

 

圩 丁 词 十 解
河 水 还 高 港 水 低
千 枝 万 派 曲 穿 畦。
斗 门 一 闭 君 休 笑
要 看 水 从 人 指 挥。

 

Wei Ding Ci Shi Jie

He shui huan gao gang shui di
Qian zhi wan pai qu chuan qi.
Dou men yi bi jun xiu xiao
Yao kan shui cong ren zhi hui.

 

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 9

River waters high, inside levees the water levels are low
Watergates control the flows to and from rectangular fields.
Work hard to close the gates, everyone stops to smile with pride
Come and see, the river now obeys our direct commands.

 

Yang Wanli: Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 7

 

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 7

 

圩 丁 词 十 解
儿 郎 幸 苦 莫 呼 天
一 日 修 圩 一 岁 眼。
六 七 月 头 无 点 雨
试 登 高 处 望 圩 田。
Wei Ding Ci Shi Jie

Er lang xing ku mo hu tian
Yi ri xiu wei yi sui yan.
Liu qi yue tou wu dian yu
Shi deng gao chu wang wei tian.

 

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 7

Young officials tell the people not to suffer, the skies will clear up to reveal their good fortune
Repairing levees is hard work, but one day we will have a year of prosperity.
Sixth and seventh lunar months are hot with very little rainfall
Gaze into the distance, the levees and fields are tall and ready for the harvests.

Yang Wanli: Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 6

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 6

圩 丁 词 十 解
年 年 圩 长 集 圩 丁
不 要 招 呼 自 要 行。
万 杵 一 鸣 千 畚 土
大 呼 高 唱 总 齐 声。

 

Wei Ding Ci Shi Jie

Nian nian wei chang ji wei ding
Bu yao zhao hu zi yao sing.
Wan chu yi ming qian ben tu
Da hu gao chang zong qi sheng.

 

Levee Partitioned Fields: Ten Poems: No. 6

Every year the long levees have to be repaired
Do not have to beckon the workers, they naturally want to help.
Thousands of large pestles cry out when packing down the earth
The farm workers and them chant and sing great sounds uttered in unison.

 

Notes:

These pestles are large and heavy cylinders of wood, manned by two people who have to raise and lower this tool together.