I
Whack whack whack!
Works Mulan at the loom
The whack I hear not
Her sighs fill the room
What's in your mind?
What misery you see?
Nothing's in my mind
Nothing's bothering me
Last night I saw the draft notice
Kahan is amassing troops
Twelve times they sent the notice
Asking for my dad's service
A son my dad have not
A brother I have none
I want to buy a horse
And fight for the ambitious Khan
II
A good horse she bought from East Market
From the west one she bought the saddle
From the north she bought the whip
And from the south she bought the bridle
At dawn she bid parents farewell
At dusk she slept by the River
Her folk's calling she could not hear
She heard only the roaring water
She left the River in morning chill
At dusk she came to the Black Hill
Her folk's calling she could not hear
The enemy horses neighed at the ear
III
Galloping ten thousand miles to the battle field
Her horse passed mountains quick
From the chilly air came the clanging of weapons
The moon turned armors cold
In hundreds of battles generals their bodies laid down
Our heroine returned safe from service ten years long
Upon returning she was summoned by the Great Ruler
Who sat in his magnificent hall
He heaped tons of rewards on the brave soldier
And bestowed ranks and titles all
Khan then asked what the warrior desired
"I am not interested in serving your court.
Please let me sit on a beautiful camel
And home I'll go"
IV
Hearing the return of their daughter
Her parents came out, holding each other
Hearing the return of her younger sister
The elder one rushed to the dresser
Hearing the return of his elder sister
Her brother sharpened a knife of butcher
She opened the door of her east chamber
And sat on the bed of the west chamber
Down she cast her battle armor
And put on the dresses of days yonder
She put her cloud-like hair in good order
And applied decorates of enchanting color
She went out to meet her fellow soldiers
And threw them all into disbelieving wonder
For twelve years we have been together
Who would have thought she was a sister
The male rabbits you can tell by the feet
The romantic eyes betray a female
As two rabbits run in a racing feat
They surely will a discerning eye fail
