Yu Shinan

Though rising high, you drink but dew;

Yet your voice flows from sparse plane trees.

Far and wide there's none but hears you;

You need no wings of autumn breeze.

The general's strategies reach far and wide,

His supreme command, with nine honors dignified.

He recalls the ancient heroes' steadfast might,

To repay his enlightened lord's grace so bright.

From west of mountains, courage surges free,

While wandering souls roam north of the frontier's lee.

Drums pound as they climb Longshan's high ridge,

Reins drawn, they charge down to the plain's wide bridge.

They vow to cross the desert, vast and stark,

And march serene through Yumen Gate's frontier arc.

Light supplies allow no rest at night,

Urgent whips drive war-chariots in flight.

Bitter winds blow fierce on the borderland,

Their steeds grow weary across the sand.

Snow dims Tianshan's paths, obscure and deep,

Ice blocks Jiaohe's source, in frozen sleep.

Frost-blurred spearheads lose their gleaming hue,

Chilled banners freeze, no longer flutter through.

Upright and firm, he leans on his long sword,

As sunset fades, dust veils all in accord.

Melodies of "Green Water" ripple from the strings so bright,

Long sleeves twirl like a phoenix in circling flight.

A pair of dancers move as one, in rhythm's embrace,

As if reflected in a mirror's perfect grace.

In Han and Wei, many held strange and noble pride,

Unconventional, they left fame and wealth aside.

They took pride in keeping promises they'd own,

Each harboring ambitions to overthrow the throne.

To make a friend, they valued a single word so deep,

To meet a pledge, a thousand miles they'd leap.

Their dark-stained bows gleam under the moon's light,

Gold-reined steeds gallop as floating clouds in flight.

Some played flutes in Wu's market, free and loud,

Some struck zithers in Yan's streets, a fearless crowd.

Like Marquis of Bowang who sought the river's source,

They roamed to find brave friends on their course.

A young man with but one glance could command,

Driving northward, leaving Longtou's land.

Their halberds shimmer like frost in the air,

Swords gleam with rainbows, beyond compare.

Tianshan's snows, both winter and summer, lie,

Jiaohe's waters north and south flow by.

When clouds loom dark o'er Dragon Sands' terrain,

Leaves fall at Wild Goose Gate, autumn's reign.

They'd risk their lives for friends who understand,

Not for their own gain, but for a righteous stand.

Chasing dancers, it wafts their light sleeves in flight,

Bearing songs that around the rafters take flight.

It moves branches, creating a chaos of shade,

Blows blossoms, sending their fragrance far conveyed.

The moon wanders over the spring garden's grace,

The bamboo hall opens as night invades the space.

Startled birds sweep through the woods in flight,

Blossoms on breeze come across water's light.

Flickering, you shed a green light;

Wafting weak wings, you flit in flight.

Being afraid to be unknown,

In the darkness you gleam alone.