Story of a Sing-Song Girl (Bai Xingjian)

This is based on a short story by Bai Xingjiang from the T’ang Dynasty, China (~800 AD).

Story of a Sing-Song Girl

 

Son of an emperor, he was undone

By the beauty of a sing-song dove.

She took him in and he had such fun,

Abandoning his studies for love.

But time for lovers passes away,

A year flew by, his money ran out,

The dove it flew too, one windy day,

And he could find her nowhere about.

He began singing funeral songs,

His voice was heard, the emperor got word.

So furious was he, of his son’s wrongs,

He half-killed him for loving that bird.

But the dove, she sensed his mortal strife

And flew back at once, aching with guilt.

Soothing him, she brought him back to life

And vowed to stay till his strength was built.

Slowly she nursed him back to good health,

In time he’d be as grand as before.

She took care of him, emptied her wealth,

And encouraged him to study more.
 

She helped him to read through the long hours

And when he was tired, made him write verse

So, mind relaxed, he regained his powers

And excelled despite his father’s curse.

 

One day he was ready for the test,
But she held him back another year,
This time to make sure he did his best
And would pass with great distinction clear.

 

When the emperor heard his son, not dead,
Was alive and famous far and wide,
Distinguished in virtue and well-read,
Delighted, he called him to his side.

  

The dove saw then that her work was done
And bid farewell though he begged her stay,
Insisting she leave the emperor's son,
But relented to come but partway.

 

When the son arrived and told this tale,
The emperor called back his saviour dove,
Struck by her faithfulness to travail
That she had shown his son through her love.

 

And so the pair, united once more,
Lived happy for the rest of their years,
Blessed by a love that none can ignore
For it had shone out through pain and tears.