The foe shoot arrows on frontier in autumn day;
The startled grieved wild geese disperse and fly away.
The statue sees their shadows pass beneath the moon bright;
The lonely palace hears their cries in candlelight.
You know the foe would run their horses therefore long.
Could you go back one and all when spring sings its song?
Don't say few live on Southern rivers up and down!
With water plants the Southern shores are overgrown.
金河秋半虏弦开，云外惊飞四散哀。
仙掌月明孤影过，长门灯暗数声来。
须知胡骑纷纷在，岂逐春风一一回。
莫厌潇湘少人处，水多菰米岸莓苔。
This poem was written around 850 AD during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, the northern borders were plagued by frequent invasions from the Uyghurs, and although the Tang court issued decrees to conscript soldiers, it was unable to effectively quell the unrest. This led to widespread displacement and suffering among the people. Witnessing this turmoil, Du Mu was moved to compose this poem, using the image of startled geese to express his feelings.
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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