Living
Old Granny Chang
Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland (1900) · From Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes (1900)
Knocking, knocking, who's at the door?
Old Granny Chang, and nothing more.
Why don't you enter, granny, dear?
The dog will bite me, child, I fear.
What are you shaking there at your feet?
A string of garlic, good to eat.
What are you carrying under your arm?
An old fur cloak to keep me warm.
Why don't you put the cloak on, granny?
Fear the insects will bite me, sonny.
Why don't your husband kill such a pest?
My husband's gone to the land of rest.
Where is the old man's burial spot?
There, in the fire-place, under the pot.
Why don't you cry for your husband true?
Old pot! old pan!! old man!!! boo-hoo!!!!
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous Chinese nursery rhymes. “Old Granny Chang.” Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-chinese-nursery/137/.
Chicago
Anonymous Chinese nursery rhymes. “Old Granny Chang.” Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-chinese-nursery/137/.
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