Sacrifice to the Cat that Scared all the Rats

Poetry of Mei Yaochen 《祭猫》

English Rendering

When I had my Five White cat,

The rats did not invade my books.

This morning Five White died,

I sacrifice with rice and fish.

I see you off in the middle of the river,

I chant for you: I won't neglect you.

Once when you'd bitten a rat,

You took it crying round the yard.

You wanted to scare all the rats,

So as to make my cottage clean.

Since we came on board this boat,

On the boat we've shared a room.

Although the grain is dry and scarce,

I eat not fearing piss or theft.

That's because of your hard work,

Harder working than chickens or pigs.

People stress their mighty steeds,

Saying nothing's like a horse or ass.

Enough- I'm not going to argue,

But cry for you a little.

Sacrifice to the Cat that Scared all the Rats by Mei Yaochen -  20220629sky
"Sacrifice to the Cat that Scared all the Rats" by Mei Yaochen

Original Text (中文原文)

自有五白猫,鼠不侵我书。

今朝五白死,祭与饭与鱼。

送之于中河,咒尔非尔疎。

昔尔啮一鼠,衔鸣绕庭除。

欲使众鼠惊,意将清我庐。

一从登舟来,舟中同屋居。

糗粮虽甚薄,免食漏窃余。

此实尔有勤,有勤胜鸡猪。

世人重驱驾,谓不如马馿。

已矣莫复论,为尔聊欷歔。

Meaning & Analysis

Mei Yaochen

Related Themes
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Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.

Reading Between the Lines

Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.

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