Living
The Drum on the Ground
Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland (1900) · From Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes (1900)
The drum on the ground is so round, so round,
My mother just whipped me so sound, so sound,
And I, oh dear, am as floating grass here,
But I'll only remain a year, a year.
A husband I'd love and serve so true,
I'd worship his gods, that's what I'd do,
And I'd call his mother my mother, too!
You naughty girl, what's that you'd do?
I was saying the beans are boiling nice,
And its just about time to add the rice.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous Chinese nursery rhymes. “The Drum on the Ground.” Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-chinese-nursery/17/.
Chicago
Anonymous Chinese nursery rhymes. “The Drum on the Ground.” Translated by Isaac Taylor Headland. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-chinese-nursery/17/.
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