The Yellow Birds

"Yellow Birds"

Preface: "Yellow Birds" is a poem mourning three good ministers. The people satirize Duke Mu of Qin for using human sacrifice, and thus wrote this poem.

The yellow birds cry out with a jiu-jiu sound, perching upon the sour jujube tree. Who followed Duke Mu to the grave? It was Yan Xi of the Ziju clan. This Yan Xi—he was the finest of a hundred men.

Approaching his tomb, they tremble in terror. O blue heavens above, you destroy our good man! If we could ransom him, we would give a hundred men for him alone.

The yellow birds cry out with a jiu-jiu sound, perching upon the mulberry tree. Who followed Duke Mu to the grave? It was Zhong Hang of the Ziju clan. This Zhong Hang—he was as strong as a hundred men's defense.

Approaching his tomb, they tremble in terror. O blue heavens above, you destroy our good man! If we could ransom him, we would give a hundred men for him alone.

The yellow birds cry out with a jiu-jiu sound, perching upon the thorn tree. Who followed Duke Mu to the grave? It was Zhen Hu of the Ziju clan. This Zhen Hu—he was as brave as a hundred men's resistance.

Approaching his tomb, they tremble in terror. O blue heavens above, you destroy our good man! If we could ransom him, we would give a hundred men for him alone.

"Yellow Birds" has three stanzas, each of twelve lines.