Cicadas complain of thin mulberry-trees
In the Eighth-month chill at the frontier pass.
Through the gate and back again, all along the road,
There is nothing anywhere but yellow reeds and grasses
And the bones of soldiers from You and from Bing
Who have buried their lives in the dusty sand.
...Let never a cavalier stir you to envy.
With boasts of his horse and his horsemanship.
Original Poem:
「塞上曲」
王昌龄
蝉鸣空桑林， 八月萧关道。
出塞复入塞， 处处黄芦草。
从来幽并客， 皆向沙场老。
莫学游侠儿， 矜夸紫骝好。
Interpretation:
This musical song is about anti-war. The poem is written by a young man who is not returning to the border, and warns the young man not to boast of the force, and expresses the feeling of non-war.
The first four lines of the poem are about the autumn scenery of the border, which is infinitely sad and desolate. Cicadas, mulberry forests, Xiao Guan, border, and autumn grass are all synonymous with sadness in the imagery of ancient Chinese poems, and the opening lines of the poem intentionally depict a solemn autumn scene as a background and emotional padding for the later anti-war theme. The poem is written about the soldiers on the borders and expresses deep sympathy.
Youzhou and Bingzhou were both border places in the Tang Dynasty, and they were also places where many scholars chased after fame and fortune. However, what the poet sees in these ambitious young people is the helpless end of “all the sand and dust of the old”.
The last two lines of the poem end with a comparison, through the self-possessed bravery, show off the purple monkey is good at galloping, flaunting the so-called rogues wandering, and even trouble and disturb the people’s so-called ranger satire, profoundly expresses the author’s aversion to the war, for the desire for a peaceful life.
This poem describes the autumn scenery of the border, there is a generous and sad Jian’an rhyme; write about the garrison conscripts, but also the Han Lefu directly expresses the feelings of grief; satirize the marketplace ranger, but also let a person see the pompous style of the Tang Dynasty brocade boy.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Wang Changling (王昌龄), circa A.D. 690 – 756, was a native of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Wang Changling’s poems were mostly about the Border Places, love affairs and farewells, and he was well known during his lifetime. His seven poems are equal to those of Li Bai, and he is known as the “Master of seven lines”.
