Gao Shi

In the sixth year of Kaiyuan, a friend returned from the border and showed me the Yan Song. Moved by what he told me of the expedition, I have written this poem to the same rhymes.

The northeastern border of China was dark with smoke and dust.

To repel the savage invaders, our generals, leaving their families,

Strode forth together, looking as heroes should look;

And having received from the Emperor his most gracious favour,

They marched to the beat of gong and drum through the Elm Pass.

They circled the Stone Tablet with a line of waving flags,

Till their captains over the Sea of Sand were twanging feathered orders.

The Tartar chieftain's hunting-fires glimmered along Wolf Mountain,

And heights and rivers were cold and bleak there at the outer border;

But soon the barbarians' horses were plunging through wind and rain.

Half of our men at the front were killed, but the other half are living,

And still at the camp beautiful girls dance for them and sing.

...As autumn ends in the grey sand, with the grasses all withered,

The few surviving watchers by the lonely wall at sunset,

Serving in a good cause, hold life and the foeman lightly.

And yet, for all that they have done, Elm Pass is still unsafe.

Still at the front, iron armour is worn and battered thin,

And here at home food-sticks are made of jade tears.

Still in this southern city young wives' hearts are breaking,

While soldiers at the northern border vainly look toward home.

The fury of the wind cuts our men's advance

In a place of death and blue void, with nothingness ahead.

Three times a day a cloud of slaughter rises over the camp;

And all night long the hour-drums shake their chilly booming,

Until white swords can be seen again, spattered with red blood.

...When death becomes a duty, who stops to think of fame?

Yet in speaking of the rigours of warfare on the desert

We name to this day Li, the great General, who lived long ago.

I came at twenty with my sword and books

And visited the west capital town.

I gazed at your mansion with longing looks

And thought it easy to attain renown.

The emperor surpassed the ancient kings,

Music and rites were performed up and down.

He lavished on his favorites jade rings,

But unknown talents can't come near the Crown.

What could I do but come back to my land?

Going east, I could not do what I wish.

I cannot earn a living by the hand,

Nor would I with a hook and line catch fish.

For the world, like a common people I appear;

But for you, I am dear and near as a compeer.

From year to year I thank you for your friendly way;

You've not refused a helping hand, not for a day.

We play chess and on lute till day fades into night;

We drink and croon in spring with willows in delight.

We'll separate when our joy has not come to an end.

How can my heart not be grieved to part with my friend?

But men at parting should not grieve as women do,

So shed no tears at crossroads when we bid adieu!

Yellow clouds spread for miles and miles have veiled the day;

The north wind blows down snow and wild geese fly away.

Fear not you've no admirers as you go along.

There is no connoisseur on earth but loves your song.

The envoy gave a silken gown

To one on whom he looked down,

Mistaking the prime minister

For a poor plain-clothed commoner.

In the cold of the tavern lamplight, unslept, alone am I;

This heart of mine, in sojourn, turned sad, O why? I sigh.

Tonight, O I wish I were home, yet a thousand miles away;

Come tomorrow, my hair grayed, another year’s gone by!

Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)

What are you thinking as we part from one another,

Pulling in our horses for the stirrup-cups?

Do these tear-streaks mean Wu Valley monkeys all weeping,

Or wildgeese returning with news from Heng Mountain?....

On the river between green maples an autumn sail grows dim,

There are only a few old trees by the wall of the White God City....

But the year is bound to freshen us with a dew of heavenly favour --

Take heart, we shall soon be together again!