Airs of the States
Wan Lan
Chapter 60
The preface to "Wan Lan" says: The poem "Wan Lan" satirizes Duke Hui of Wei. He was arrogant and willful, lacking in propriety, so the great officers wrote this poem to satirize him.
The branches of the wan lan,
A child wears a knot-untying awl.
Though he wears the knot-untying awl,
He cannot make me understand him.
He puts on airs, struts about,
His trailing sash flutters to and fro.
The leaves of the wan lan,
A child wears an archer's thumb-ring.
Though he wears the archer's thumb-ring,
He cannot make me draw near to him.
He puts on airs, struts about,
His trailing sash flutters to and fro.
"Wan Lan" has two stanzas, each of six lines.