Here’s the next poem we’ve had to memorize for my 古代文化 class, a poem called 关雎. It can be translated into English as “Guan cry the ospreys”, and it was written in the 7th century BC, making it one of China’s oldest poems. Although the exact meaning is debated, it’s essentially about finding a beautiful girl who would be a good match for a young gentleman. Note the juxtaposition of alternating lines describing nature with lines describing the courtship process (see bottom of the post for an English translation).
周南·关雎
关关雎鸠，在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，君子好逑。
参差荇菜，左右流之。
窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。
求之不得，寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉！ 辗转反侧。
参差荇菜，左右采之。
窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。
参差荇菜，左右芼之。
窈窕淑女，钟鼓乐之。
———————————————————————————————
And the 意思 in 现代汉语, from 百度百科:
雎鸠鸟在河中沙洲，
不停地鸣叫。
文静美好的姑娘，
是男儿的好配偶。
在船的左右两边捞，
长短不齐的水草。
文静美好的姑娘，
男儿日夜都想她。
思念追求不可得，
醒来做梦长相思。
悠悠思念情意切，
翻来覆去难入眠。
长短不齐的水草，
姑娘左右去摘采。
文静美好的姑娘，
弹琴鼓瑟表示亲近。
长短不齐的水草，
姑娘左右去挑选。
文静美好的姑娘，
敲击钟鼓使她快乐。
———————————————————————————————
Wikipedia has this English version:
“Guan guan” cry the ospreys
On the islet in the river.
The beautiful and good young lady
Is a fine mate for the lord.
Varied in length are the water plants;
Left and right we catch them.
The beautiful and good young lady
Waking and sleeping he wished for her.
He wished for her without getting her.
Waking and sleeping he thought of her:
Longingly, longingly,
He tossed and turned from side to side.
Varied in length are the water plants;
Left and right we gather them.
The beautiful and good young lady
Zithers and lutes greet her as friend.
Varied in length are the water plants;
Left and right we cull them as vegetable.
The beautiful and good young lady
Bells and drums delight her.