The Parable of the Rooster

Ho-e, ho-e
Ho-e omei thopfii atu kaprani meina khowe.
Ho-e achii hudzii atu kaprani meina khomo.
Ho-e pfupi vano motu tushu pra.
Ho-e pfuphe vano samei meidei li.
Ho-e pfumi vano sokei modzii shu.
Ho-e pfuphi vano nghochu kayi shipfu.
Ho-e achii hudzii, chara-e hudzii.
Ho-e, ho-e.
This is a Mao folksong which talks about the sartorial sense of a rooster. Freely translated, it goes something like this:
Ho-e, ho-e (just a connector without specific meaning)
Everybody tends to borrow an attire to show up on a special occasion.
The beautiful rooster does not need to borrow one.
On its head springs the large colourful comb.
On its back lies the warm blanket of downs.
On its rear are adorned the horn-like sickles.
On its feet lie the spurs like a warrior's spear.
Our grand rooster, the wonderful rooster.
(Ends with ho-e, ho-e).
The song praises the perfection of a gentleman, metaphorically the rooster in the song, and celebrates the sartorial sense of a complete man, in Mao culture.

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