Ode to the Goose - Luo Binwang

骆宾王 Luò Bīnwáng

五言古诗 Wǔyán gǔshī

Character Explanations

Click on a character in the poem to display its explanation here.

鹅 é

"Goose." The poem opens with the child's repeated call: "Goose!"

鹅 é

"Goose." The triple repetition mimics the child's cry and wonder.

鹅 é

"Goose." 鹅，鹅，鹅: three times, as one would call the animal.

曲 qū

"To bend, curved." 曲项 "the curved neck."

项 xiàng

"Neck." 曲项 "the bent neck."

向 xiàng

"Toward, in the direction of." 向天 "toward the sky."

天 tiān

"Sky." 向天歌 "sings toward the sky."

歌 gē

"To sing, song." 向天歌 "launches its song toward the sky."

白 bái

"White." 白毛 "white feathers."

毛 máo

"Feather, fur." 白毛 "the white plumage."

浮 fú

"To float." 浮绿水 "floats on the green water."

绿 lǜ

"Green." 绿水 "the green water."

水 shuǐ

"Water." 绿水 "the verdant water."

红 hóng

"Red." 红掌 "the red feet."

掌 zhǎng

"Palm; webbed foot." 红掌 "the red webbed feet."

拨 bō

"To push aside, cleave (water)." 拨清波 "cleaves the clear wave."

清 qīng

"Clear, limpid." 清波 "the limpid wave."

波 bō

"Wave, ripple." 清波 "the clear ripples."

Literal Translation

Goose, goose, goose!
Neck bent, singing toward the sky.
White feathers floating on green water,
Red feet cleaving the clear wave.

Historical and Biographical Context

骆宾王 (Luò Bīnwáng, ~640–684) is one of the "Four Greats" of the early Tang dynasty. Tradition holds that he composed this poem at the age of seven.

This poem, 咏鹅 (Yǒng é), "Ode to the Goose," is the very first poem learned by countless Chinese children: simple, vivid, and musical.

Literary Analysis

Structure and Form

A short ancient-style poem (古诗). It opens with a repeated exclamation—鹅，鹅，鹅—then builds three increasingly detailed images of the animal.

Imagery and Symbolism

The contrast of colors (white feathers, green water, red feet) creates a bright and joyful tableau, from a child's perspective.

Movement and Gesture

From the outstretched neck that "sings" to the feet that "cleave the wave," the poem captures the goose in motion, full of life.

Language and Tone

Very simple and sonorous language; the tone is one of spontaneous wonder, perfect for learning and memorization.

Main Themes

The Child's Gaze

The poem conveys the naive and joyful wonder at a familiar animal.

Color and Movement

White, green, red, and the play of water make this short text a little animated painting.

Musical Simplicity

Its sound and clarity have made it the quintessential introductory poem.