Chinese Poem For children

An Ode to the Goose” is a short poem from the Tang Dynasty, and is often the first poem that Chinese children are taught due to its simplicity.

It was written during the Tang Dynasty by child prodigy poet 骆宾王 (Luò bīn wáng), who penned this poem when he was only seven years old. 骆宾王 would go on to become one of the most famous poets of the Tang Dynasty, and later served as a secretary of the country government of Chang’an.

鹅、鹅、鹅，
(é é é)

曲项向天歌。
(qū xiàng xiàng tiān gē)

白毛浮绿水，
(bái máo fú lǜ shuǐ)

红掌拨清波
(hóng zhǎng bō qīng bō)

English Translation:

Goose, goose, goose,
You bend your neck towards the sky and sing.
Your white feathers float on the emerald water,
Your red feet push the clear waves.