Lament for Five White Cat (after Mei Yao-ch’en)
Five White cat always made sure
no rats gnawed my books,
but this morning Five White died.
On the river I offered up rice and fish,
and buried you in its lazy currents,
chanting my lament. I could never neglect you.
One time you caught a rat
and carried it squealing around the yard
to frighten all the other rats
and keep my cottage clear of them.
We’ve shared space aboard this boat,
and although the food is meager
it’s free of rat piss and droppings
because you were so diligent,
more so than any chicken or pig.
Some people speak highly of horses,
saying nothing compares to them or donkeys.
But we’re done with that discussion!
My tears prove it so.
The transliteration from Chinese-poems.com:
Self have 5 white cat
Rat not invade my books
Today morning 5 white die
Sacrifice with rice and fish
See off it at middle river
Incantation you not you neglect
Before you bite one rat
Hold in mouth cry around yard remove
Want cause crowd rat frightened
Thought will clear my cottage
From board boat come
Boat in together room live
Dry grain although its thin
Evade eat drip steal from
This real you have industriousness
Have industriousness surpass chicken pig
Ordinary person stress spur horse drive
Say not like horse donkey
Already finish not again discuss
For you somewhat cry
A Song Dynasty poet, Mei Yao-ch’en (or Mei Yaochen) died in 1060. His great poems live on.
This adaptation first appeared in November 2014, and is for one of my favorite poets, Jeff Schwaner, whose Mei Yao-ch’en sequence has entertained, inspired and enlightened me. You can find the sequence here: http://jeffschwaner.com/mei-yao-chen-sequence/
You had me at cat. 🙂
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Five White is one of my favorite literary cats. He makes an appearance in one of Jeff Schwaner’s poems, and plays a major role in one of mine as well.
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Beautiful. Thank you. Made me think of the song ‘Freyr’ by Peter Broderick, which is also about a cat dying. You may know it? If not, maybe look it up on YouTube if you are interested.
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I don’t know the song but will look it up. Thank you.
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Lovely 🙂
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Thank you.
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Are you acquainted with “Pangur Bán”? If not, here’s a link: http://www.sky-net.org.uk/canals/pangurban/name/
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I’m not, Christine, but will soon be. Thank you.
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…as I read this my two cats have an armchair each, asleep in the afternoon sun. This is so very beautiful. Love your rewording of the transliteration…so moving. Thank you!
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Mei suffered many losses, and his poetry resonates, even through the centuries.
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…it has such depth…
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“My tears prove it so.” A beautiful tribute to Five White and, by association, all the wonderful felines in our lives, who gift us emotionally as well as practically. I concede, though, that when I read the original poet’s name — Mei Yao..- I wondered if you were spoofing me. 🙂
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Thanks, Cate. You know, I’d never considered that aspect of his name. Funny, now that you’ve pointed it out.
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Sometimes, we don’t choose the bonds we make, but we still reap the benefits.
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So true, Ken. I have been fortunate over the years.
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sad yet soothing. very nice.
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Thanks, John. I love the idea of cat as “book protector.” We had a puppy once who apparently didn’t like Truman Capote. She chewed the spines of several of his books, but ignored the books by other authors surrounding his. 🙂
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Thanks for that.
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I’m so pleased you liked it. Thank you.
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Very much. Enough so that I forwarded it to a friend–something I do very sparingly.
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so enjoyed this Robert. I was a history major concentrating on China and love Chinese poetry. Also I just lost one of my cats, not white but a mostly black tuxedo, and I can really identify with the author’s thoughts and feelings
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Thank you, Angela. I am so sorry for your loss. Having lost three dogs to old age over the past six years, I am well acquainted with these feelings.
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I have never really been a cat person,but, my wife is. When I showed her this poem it literally brought tears to her eyes!!! Great post!
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Thank you, Keith. Then Mei and I have done our jobs.
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it was a beautiful and fitting tribute. I think when I have a cat I shall name it Mei Yao. And I want a cat when my kids go to college.
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Thank you. I think Mei Yao would be a wonderful name for a cat. Wish I’d thought of it. Of course I have no cat…
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The tramsliteration is beautiful and moving. It reminds me of the importance not only of a good cat but also of good relationships. I plan to share the poem with my writing group.
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Thanks, Darryl. Mei wrote beautifully about his losses (and other subjects as well). But this one has stayed with me.
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The death of a cat is a hard thing…even reading about it 1,000 years later. Excellent rendition. I don’t recall Mei Yao. I’ll have to look it up in my anthologies when I get home, if they have him. I’ve always had a soft spot for the clarity of classical Chinese poetry (and Japanese too).
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Mei’s emotions still resonate. You’ll find his work scattered about. Well worth the search.
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Well done
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Thanks, Derrick.
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It’s always hard dealing with the death of pets. They give unconditional love and can almost feel more powerful than the loss of loved ones. I enjoyed reading it.
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Their lives are unfortunately brief.
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Beautiful…
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Thank you.
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Wow!! Such a Beautiful Poem! _ I Love!!
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Thank you, Natalie. I’m so pleased you feel that way!
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