The Nine-Pocket Net

Preface: "Nine Nets" is a poem praising the Duke of Zhou. The ministers of Zhou satirize the court for not understanding the Duke of Zhou.

Fish caught in fine nets are the trout and the bream. The man I see wears a robe embroidered with dragons and a skirt adorned with patterns.

Wild geese fly along the sandbank; the Duke of Zhou returns with no place to rest. We beg you to stay for two more days.

Wild geese fly along the land; the Duke of Zhou returns and will not come again. We beg you to stay for two more nights.

Therefore, there is this embroidered dragon robe—do not let our Duke of Zhou go back, do not let our hearts be grieved.

"Nine Nets" has four stanzas. The first stanza has four lines; the following three stanzas each have three lines.