bind your hand, child

bind your hand, child,

lest you use it,

pencil to paper,

cane to flesh,

suppress that evil.

bind your hand, child,

lest you be seen as different,

chopsticks to mouth,

carefully, carefully,

don't let the baozi fall.

bind your hand, girl,

lest you smear your writing,

write your characters,

stroke by stroke,

perfect, like the rest of you must be.

bind your hand, girl,

lest you be seen as disrespectful,

shake hands,

right and true,

keep that dirty hand away.

bind your hand, woman ,

lest you bring bad omens upon yourself,

smile, say your vows,

you couldn't have married without the switch.

bind his hand, new mother,

lest your child use it.

you saw him use the crayon with the wrong hand,

keep the tradition alive.