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Chewk-chewk the fish-hawk's whistle
Midstream from the sandy isle.
Lo, the maiden fair and dainty --
Fit for a young man fine and dandy.
Short and long the duckweeds grow,
Hands go picking to and fro.
Lo, the maiden dainty and fair --
Awake or asleep, seek her, seek her.
Seek her, seek her, still I miss her,
Asleep and awake, thinking of her.
Tossing and turning, no rest for me --
Far, oh, so far away is she.
Short and long the duckweeds grow,
Hands go plucking to and fro.
Lo, the maiden dainty and fair --
With qin and zither I'll befriend her.
Short and long the duckweeds grow,
Hands go pulling to and fro.
Lo, the maiden dainty and fair --
With bells and drums I'll delight her.
Translated
by Tommy W.K. Tao, Vancouver, B.C.
1 The fish-hawk is also known as the osprey, which is a hawk that feeds only on fish, and is found along lakes, rivers and seacoasts. "The characteristic cry of the osprey is a thin, shrill whistle." Microsoft Encarta.
The osprey's "usual call is melodious whistle, chewk-chewk-chewk or cheap-cheap-cheap". The International Osprey Foundation's website: www.sancap.com/osprey/osprey.htm
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關關雎鳩，
在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，
君子好逑。
參差荇菜，
左右流之。
窈窕淑女，
寤寐求之。
求之不得，
寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉，
輾轉反側。
參差荇菜，
左右採之。
窈窕淑女，
琴瑟友之。
參差荇菜，
左右芼之。2
窈窕淑女，
鐘鼓樂之。
2 芼：粵音冒
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