English Rendering
A hero can't foretell victory or defeat.
Why should a loser not stand again on his feet?
There are so many talents on the Southern shore.
Who dare say, once defeated, he can't win the war?
On the Black River Pavilion
- Poetry of Du Mu
《题乌江亭》
Original Text (中文原文)
胜败兵家事不期，包羞忍耻是男儿。
江东子弟多才俊，卷土重来未可知。
Analysis & Context
This poem was written by Du Mu in the first year of the Huichang era (841 CE) when he was appointed the governor of Chizhou. While passing by Wujiang Pavilion, Du Mu reflected on the historical Chu-Han War, using the defeat of Xiang Yu as a starting point to express his thoughts on the vicissitudes of history and individual fate, and to ponder the heroism and failure.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
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.
Reading Between the Lines
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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