乐府

Folk-song-styled-verse

孟郊

Meng Jiao

游子吟

A TRAVELLER'S SONG

慈母手中线,

The thread in the hands of a fond-hearted mother

游子身上衣;

Makes clothes for the body of her wayward boy;

临行密密缝,

Carefully she sews and thoroughly she mends,

意恐迟迟归。

Dreading the delays that will keep him late from home.

谁言寸草心,

But how much love has the inch-long grass

报得三春辉?

For three spring months of the light of the sun?