You gave birth to me and I gave birth to you. You hate me for being late, and I hate you for being early.
You gave birth to me, but I didn't. I hate not having you. Meanwhile, I treat you well every day.
I was born before you were born and you were born when I was old. I am far away from you, and you are far away from me.
I was born before you were born and you were born when I was old. Become a butterfly, look for flowers every night and live in the grass.
2. Meaning:
I was not born when you came into this world, and you were old when I came into this world. I was not born when I was born in this world. When I was born, you were old. I hope I can't be born with you at the same time. You weren't born when I was born. I was old when you were born, and I was as far away from you as the ends of the earth. You weren't born when I was born. I was old when you were born. I want to turn into a butterfly to find you and be together day and night.
This poem is an inscription on the porcelain of Tongguan kiln in Tang Dynasty. The author may have created it by the Potter himself, or it may have been a popular alley ballad at that time. 1974- 1978 was unearthed at Tongguan kiln site in Changsha, Hunan. See Chen's Supplement to Complete Tang Poems, Volume 56, Five-character Poems by Anonymous, 1642, Zhonghua Book Company, 1992+00.