Night at a Pavilion, Du Fu (300 Tang Shi #189)

[lnhammer]

At the year’s end, the moon and sun hasten the short days.
At the sky’s edge, the frost and snow clear on this winter night.
Fifth watch, the drums and horns—sounds sorrowful and resonant.
Three Gorges, stars and river—reflections move in the waves.
The country wails, thousands of families hear of strife and battles.
Yi songs in many places—rise to fish and gather wood.
Crouching dragons and leaping horses end in the yellow earth:
In vain I read news of the world—it’s few and far between.

阁夜
岁暮阴阳催短景，
天涯霜雪霁寒霄。
五更鼓角声悲壮，
三峡星河影动摇。
野哭千家闻战伐，
夷歌数处起渔樵。
卧龙跃马终黄土，
人事音书漫寂寥。



The fifth night-watch was the one just before dawn, and the drums and horns are soldiers’ signals. The Yi are a non-Han ethnic group of Sichuan, and several Yi folk songs passed into general usage in the region.

TIL: The main temple & fortress compound of Baidi Town (where Du Fu wrote this) is now an island, thanks to the Three Gorges Dam.

---L.

Comments

[sartorias]

So full of image and emotion. The thousands of families wailing is a standard, but the feeling really comes through in the other lines.

[lnhammer]

Reflections of stars in the Yangzi is also a standard, but he makes it fresher than usual. Otherwise, yup.