关雎

关关雎鸠，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。
参差荇菜，左右流之。窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。
求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。
参差荇菜，左右采之。窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。
参差荇菜，左右芼之。窈窕淑女，钟鼓乐之。

                 GUAN! GUAN! CRY THE FISH HAWKS 

Guan! Guan! Cry the fish hawks          
on sandbars in the river: a mild-mannered good girl, 
fine match for the gentleman. 

A ragged fringe is the floating-heart, 
left and right we trail it: 
that mild-mannered good girl, 
awake, asleep, I search for her. 

I search but cannot find her, 
awake, asleep, thinking of her, 
endlessly, endlessly, 
turning, tossing from side to side. 

A ragged fringe is the floating-heart, 
left and right we pick it: 
the mild-mannered good girl, 
harp and lute make friends with her.

A ragged fringe is the floating-heart, 
left and right we sort it:
the mild-mannered good girl, 
bell and drum delight her.

NOTES:
This is a love poem, describing a man of the royal family in love with a girl collecting edible water plants , and his efforts to court her.