The steed from the barbaric west
Has angular frame and strong chest.
Like pointed bamboo its sharp ear,
As swift wind its fleet hoofs, O hear!
The way it runs will never end;
Life or death on it may depend.
When you have such a fiery steed,
You can ride where you will indeed.
胡马大宛名，锋棱瘦骨成。
竹批双耳峻，风入四蹄轻。
所向无空阔，真堪托死生。
骁腾有如此，万里可横行。
This poem was likely composed between 740-741 CE, during the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong, a time when Du Fu, in the prime of his life, was traveling through the Qi and Zhao regions, living with the untamed elegance of a youth in fine furs and spirited horses. Through an ode of extreme praise for a steed from Dayuan (the Ferghana Valley in Central Asia), the poem gives full expression to the young Du Fu's soaring ambition and fervent desire to achieve greatness and render service. It stands as a model of the vigorous style and romantic aspirations that characterize his early poetry.
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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