Pekinese Rhymes/18

by Guido Vitale

XVIII

槐樹槐
槐樹底下撘戲台
人家的姑娘部來了
我家的姑娘還不來
說着說着就來了
騎着驢
打着傘
光着脊梁挽着纂

NOTES

槐樹 huai² shu⁴, the ash tree (lat. fraxinus). 打着傘 ta³ cho¹ san³, keeping the umbrella open. 光着脊梁 kuang¹ cho¹ chi³ niang³, bare from head to waist. 挽着纂 uan³ cho¹ tsuan³, with the back-hair combed as a chignon.

TRANSLATION

Ash trees, ash trees — under the ash trees they have raised a stage — everybody's girls are come ― only mine does not come yet ― just while speaking, here she is come ― riding on a donkey ― with an open parasol ― and with her hair combed into a chignon.

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