Category: Selected Poems: Quatrains

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: Third Month Third Day Go To the Grave of Zhong Xiang: No. 6

 

Third Day of the Third Month Go to the Grave of Zhong Xiang, Followed His Transitory and Fractured Life to Obtain These Ten Poems: No. 6

 

三 日 三 月 上 忠 襄 坟 因 之 行 散 得 十 绝 句
女 唱 儿 歌 去 踏 青
阿 婆 笑 语 伴 渠 行。
只 亏 郎 罢 忧 轻 杀
櫑 子 双 担 挈 酒 瓶。
San Yue San Ri Shang Zhong Xiang Fen Yi Zhi Xing San De Shi Jue Ju

Nu chang er ge qu ta qing
E po xiao you ban qu xing.
Zhi kui lang ba you qing sha
Lei zi shuang dan qie jiu ping.

Third Day of the Third Month Go to the Grave of Zhong Xiang, Followed His Transitory and Fractured Life to Obtain These Ten Poems: No. 6

Daughters singing their songs go out for a walk
Mothers laugh at their words, stay close to them for safety.
Lone government official father carrying all of the snacks
His pole carries the wine bottles and food containers.

 

Yang Wanli: Third Month Third Day Go To Grave of Zhong Xiang: No. 2

 

Third Day of the Third Month Go to the Grave of Zhong Xiang, Followed His Transitory and Fractured Life to Obtain These Ten Poems: No. 2

 

三 日 三 月 上 忠 襄 坟 因 之 行 散 得 十 绝 句
草 藉 轮 蹄 翠 织 成
花 围 苍 陌 锦 帏 屏。
早 来 指 点 游 人 处
今 在 游 人 行 处 行。
San Yue San Ri Shang Zhong Xiang Fen Yi Zhi Xing San De Shi Jue Ju

Cao ji lun ti xui zhi cheng
Hua wei xiang mo jin wei bing.
Zao lai zhi dian you ren chu
Jin zai you ren xing chu xing.

 

Third Day of the Third Month Go to the Grave of Zhong Xiang, Followed His Transitory and Fractured Life to Obtain These Ten Poems: No. 2

Wheel tracks tread upon green grasses to create a damask weaving
Flower blossoms along alleys and footpaths between the fields like a brocade curtain.
Arrive early, I give directions to the travelers on where to go
Soon overwhelmed with too many curious tourists.

Notes:

Zhong Xiang: Also known as Yang Ban, was an uncle of Yang Wanli.