古從軍行 李頎

古從軍行    李頎 (690-751)

白日登山望烽火，黃昏飲馬傍交河。
行人刁斗風沙暗，公主琵琶幽怨多。
野營萬里無城郭，雨雪紛紛連大漠。
胡雁哀鳴夜夜飛，胡兒眼淚雙雙落。
聞道玉門猶被遮，應將性命逐輕車。
年年戰骨埋荒外，空見葡萄入漢家。

Ballad of the Army Draftees       Li Qi (690-751)

In broad daylight mounting the mountain to espy the beacon fire on the sentry castle,

At dusk by the Jiao River they take their horses to drink to their fill,
Amidst army striking beats of sirens gloomy gale and sands veil,
The bruising pipa tunes of the Han Princess on marrying off to the barbarians are recalled,
In the wide voidness spreading thousands of miles there stands not even a single city wall,
The extensive sprawls of sand is shrouded only by rain and snow,
Night after night soar the wild geese in woeful warbles,
Even the barbarians let their tears pour in dole,
People say the Jade Gate Pass is still under the barbarians’ handle,
Our warriors could only follow the chariots and give their all,
Year after year their bones scattered amid the briars and brambles,
Watching in vain the barbarians offering up grapes of consecration to pay their tribute of awe.