The war drum is beating
- Poetry of Pre-Qin Poetry

《击鼓》

- Last updated: 2024-03-22 16:08:19

中文原文

击鼓其镗，踊跃用兵。土国城漕，我独南行。

从孙子仲，平陈与宋。不我以归，忧心有忡。

爰居爰处？爰丧其马？于以求之？于林之下。

死生契阔，与子成说。执子之手，与子偕老。

于嗟阔兮，不我活兮。于嗟洵兮，不我信兮。

English Translation

The war drum is beating,

soldiers are ready for fighting.

People stay at home with fear,

only i march southward without drear.

Our great general leads us to win,

many countries are collapsing.

Flame dances,suddenly i think of you,

the wife that makes the tea under cherry tree.

Worried about where you are,

worried about where horses are,

Worried if you could find our horses,

they always ramble on the bushes.

Love and death,part and sorrow,

i've whispered to you by the pillow.

Don't cry,your hand i'll hold tight,

won't let it go,just let's get old like that.

What a tragedy,now we're on two places,

just don't know if i could come home.

What a mirage,i thought i could kept my promises,

hold your hand and gaze at the stars like what we used to be.

By Anonymous

Why Chinese poems is so special?: The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.

How to read a Chinese poem?: Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

List of Chinese poets