Du Fu: Ask For More Militia Recruits

0
227

Ask For More Militia Recruits

征 夫
十 室 几 人 在?
千 山 空 自 多!
路 衢 唯 见 哭
城 市 不 闻 歌。
漂 梗 无 安 地
銜 枚 有 荷 戈。
官 军 未 通 蜀
吾 道 竟 如 何?
Zheng Fu

Shi shi ji ren zai?
Qian shan kong zi duo!
Lu qu wei jian ku
Cheng shi bu wen ge.

Piao geng wu an di
Xian mei you he ge.
Guan jun wei tong shu
Wu dao jing ru he?

 

 

Ask For More Militia Recruits

How many people are still left per household?
A thousand empty mountains, naturally have many defensible passes!
See many families crying on the main highways
Marketplaces inside city walls, do not hear any singing of songs.

Recruits are like floating branches in a river, no place to march to
Hold an object in their mouths while carrying dagger axes.
Regular army troops have yet to arrive here in Sichuan
Where is the end of my road?

 

Notes:

Hold an object in their mouths: This was done so that the marching militia could not, and did not, talk to the onlookers.

Previous articleDu Fu: Spring Days in a River Village: Five Poems
Next articleDu Fu: Start Over in Lang Zhong
Discover the wonders of China through studying abroad - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand your horizons, immerse yourself in a rich and diverse culture, and gain a world-class education.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here