Du Fu: I Came From A Decent Family 杜甫 我本良家子 出師亦多門 Poem by Frank Yue

I came from a decent family;
Many times I have served my country.
But our Commander was arrogant,
Greedy and unworthy.
Promotions just passed me by.
Galloping on war horses for twenty years,
I believe I have faithfully done my duty.

I see on the Central Plain
The havoc wrought by the Eastern Invaders;
This gives me great pain.
Then, by a lonely track one night,
I returned to my empty village that's in terrible plight
No one can say a coward am I -
But, poor and old, I have not a son or grandson by my side.


(22.11.15


《后出塞》- 杜甫

我本良家子， 出師亦多門。
將驕益愁思， 身貴不足論。
躍馬二十年， 恐辜明主恩。
坐見幽州騎， 長驅河洛昏。
中夜間道歸， 故里但空村。
恶名幸脱免， 窮老無兒孫。