Classic Poem

I

The second year of the emperor's reign, in autumn
during the Extra Eighth Month, on Beginning Luck
I, Master Tu about to journey north
vast, vague wonder about my home

These times have brought us hardship, sorrow
in or out of court, there are few free days
yet (I feel shame for favors specially granted)
a decree permits a return to my vines and brambles

I bow farewell, pay respects in the palace
fearful, alarmed a long time before I come out
Although I lack the temperament to admonish
I fear the Ruler may still have some errors left:
the Ruler truly is lord of our rising again
about state affairs certainly diligent
but the Eastern Hu rebellion is not yet over
so his servant Fu is anxious about what is pressing

I wipe my tears long for the Travel Locale
on roads and trails still muddled
the universe endures its gaping wounds
sadness, sorrow when will it ever end?

II

Slow, slow we cross paddy paths
men, smoke sparse in the desolation
those we meet most of them wounded
groaning, sobbing and even bleeding

I turn my head back toward Feng-hsiang town:
its pennons and banners at dusk grow bright, go out
On and up into folds of wintry hills
often we come across grottoes where horses are watered

The land around Pin goes deep into the earth
waters of the Ching crash in its midst
a fierce tiger stands in front of us
gray cliffs at his roar, split

Chrysanthemums hang blossoms of this autumn
rocks carry ruts of ancient chariots
blue clouds move me to elation
secluded things are, after all, a joy

Mountain berries most of them tiny, delicate
spread and grow mixed with acorns and chestnuts
some red like dust of cinnabar
some black like dots of lacquer
wherever rain or dew moisten
whether sweet or bitter, all bear fruit
My longing thoughts are by Peach Spring
more sighing for the clumsiness of my life's course

Hilly land and I gaze at Fu Altar
cliffs and valleys emerge and disappear
my own path has reached to the bank of the stream
my servant is still in the tips of the trees

An owl calls from a brown mulberry
field mice fold their paws in a mess of nests

The night is deep and we pass through a battlefield
the wintry moon shines on white bones
at T'ung Pass a million warriors
at that time why did they scatter so fast?
thus it happened and half the people of Ch'in
were broken, wounded or turned into other beings
But what about me? I fall into Hu dust
and now go home my hair all flecked with white

III

It's been over a year I arrive at my thatched house
wife and children clothes with a hundred patches
our bawling returns with sounds of pines
a sad brook shares our stifled sobs
Our son, spoiled all his life
face whiter than snow
sees his dad turns his back and weeps
dirty, grimy feet unsocked

In front of the bed our two little girls
patched tatters barely passing their knees
a seascape broken ripples and waves
from an old embroidery out-of-line crooks and snaps
Sky Wu and Purple Phoenix
upside down on the coarse cloth of their jackets

An old man sick in mind and chest
vomiting, diarrhetic I lie down several days

" How could I not have in my satchel, silks
to save you from the cold, the shivering? "
powder and eye-black also unwrapped from their parcels
quilts and curtains gradually displayed
and my thin wife has her face aglow again
our silly daughters their hair they comb themselves
they copy their mother there's nothing they don't do
morning makeup free-handedly smeared
at another time I give them rouge and powder
and they messily paint their eyebrows wide

Come back alive I face the children
it's as though I'm about to forget the hunger and thirst
they ask questions and fight to pull my beard
who could bring himself to shout at them?

I turn back my thoughts to the sadness of being among rebels
and sweetly submit to a disorderly din
newly come home ready to be comforted
— how can I bring up our making a living?

IV

The Most Revered is still covered with dust
how many days before he stops training the troops?

I look up and see the sky's colors have changed
I sit and sense weird vapors dispersed
A dark wind comes out of the northwest
sad, dull, following the Uighurs.
Their king wants to help, as an ally
their folk are good at the " galloping ambush "
He sends soldiers, five thousand men
and fast horses, ten thousand mounts

Of such people, just a few would be best
everyone agreed to this brave decision
Using them, always as " eagle steeds "
will smash the enemy faster than an arrow
The Holy Heart waits with great composure
but at current discussions, spirits begin to flag

At the Yi and the Lo a finger-palm recovery
the Western Capital not needing to be stormed
The government armies ask to penetrate deeply:
their latent valor can be released all at once!
Then will you rise and open up Ch'ing and Hsü
whirl your gaze, capture the Heng and the Chieh

A vast sky piles up frost and dew
a corrective spirit includes stern destruction
misfortune reversed it's the year to destroy the Hu
the force is gathered it's the month to take the Hu
Hu destiny can it last for long?
The imperial stand was never meant to be broken!

V

Recall how before, when things got out of control
matters were different from those of ancient times
the vicious minister has been chopped to bits
his companions in evil have since then been dispersed
We do not hear that the Hsia and the Yin declined
because they themselves put Pao and Ta to death
Chou and Han achieved their reconstruction
Hsüan and Kuang were indeed clear-sighted and wise
Martial, martial is General Ch'en
grasping his battle-ax, roused in his loyal zeal:
had it not been for you, all men would have ceased to be
today, the nation still lives!

Desolate is great Unity Hall
quiet, quiet White Beast Gate
men of the capital look for kingfisher splendor
as the auspicious spirit moves toward the Golden Tower
the parks and tombs truly have their gods
are swept, sprinkled often and without fail
bright, bright the Great Founder's deed
his establishing most broad and pervasive!