South of the River

江jiāng南nán可kě采cǎi莲lián

In Jiangnan, we can gather lotus seeds.

莲lián叶yè何hé田tián田tián

How lush and full the lotus leaves are!

鱼yú戏xì莲lián叶yè间jiān

Fish play among the lotus leaves,

鱼yú戏xì莲lián叶yè东dōng

Fish play to the east of the leaves,

鱼yú戏xì莲lián叶yè西xī

Fish play to the west of the leaves,

鱼yú戏xì莲lián叶yè南nán

Fish play to the south of the leaves,

鱼yú戏xì莲lián叶yè北běi

Fish play to the north of the leaves.

What the poem means

Lotus leaves grow lush in Jiangnan. Fish play among them, moving east, west, south and north. Repeated lines give the folk song its rhythm.

A Han folk song of unknown authorship. Its repeated phrases invite shared reading.