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.