Listen to this article七律·到韶山
一九五九年六月
SHAOSHAN REVISITED
–a lu shih
June 1959
一九五九年六月二十五日到韶山。离别这个地方已有三十二周年了。
I visited Shaoshan on June 25, 1959 after an absence of thirty-two years.
别梦依稀咒逝川，
故园三十二年前。
红旗卷起农奴戟，
黑手高悬霸主鞭。
为有牺牲多壮志，
敢叫日月换新天。
喜看稻菽千重浪，
遍地英雄下夕烟。
Like a dim dream recalled, I curse the long-fled past–
My native soil two and thirty years gone by.
The red flag roused the serf, halberd in hand,
While the despot’s black talons held his whip aloft.
Bitter sacrifice strengthens bold resolve
Which dares to make sun and moon shine in new skies.
Happy, I see wave upon wave of paddy and beans,
And all around heroes home-bound in the evening mist.
