Memories of the Battle at Red Cliff

Just a deviation from my usual self-made poems, this is actually a Chinese poem I admire, written by the famous poet Su Shi from the Song Dynasty.

This is an ode to the warring Three Kingdoms Period of heroes and beauties and the legendary Battle at the Red Cliff.

Enjoy this masterpiece's translated version & tell me what you think!~  :-D

This is the MV and ending theme song from the contemporary movie called the "Battle at the Red Cliff", inspired by the epic battle. Take a look and listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi6IzPfAoQM&feature=related

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"Charm of a Maiden Songstress"

Memories of the Battle at Red Cliff

- by Su Shi

The Great River eastward flows

With its waves are gone all those

Gallant heroes of bygone years.

West of the ancient fortress appears

The Red Cliff. Here General Zhou won his early fame

When the Three Kingdoms were all in flame.

Jagged rocks tower in the air,

Swashing waves beat on the shore,

Rolling up a thousand heaps of snow.

To match the hills and the river so fair,

How many heroes brave of yore

Made a great show!

I fancy General Zhou at the height

Of his success, with a plume fan in hand,

In a silk hood, so brave and bright,

Laughing and jesting with his bride so fair,

While enemy ships were destroyed as planned

Like shadowy castles in the air.

Should their souls revisit this land,

Sentimental, his wife would laugh to say,

Younger than they, I have my hair all turned gray.

Life is but a passing dream,

I'd drink to the moon, which once saw them on the stream.

(Original Chinese Version below)

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Poem Title: 念奴嬌

Poem Subhead: 赤壁懷古

Author: 蘇軾

大江東去，

浪淘盡千古風流人物。

故壘西邊，

人道是三國周郎赤壁。

亂石崩雲，

驚濤裂岸，

捲起千堆雪。

江山如畫，

一時多少豪傑。

遙想公瑾當年，

小喬初嫁了，

雄姿英發。

雨扇綸巾，

談笑間，

檣櫓灰飛煙滅

故國神游，

多情應笑我，

早生華髮。

人間如夢，

一樽還酹江月。

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FYI:

Poet Su Shi's Bio on Wikipedia

Information on the Three Kingdoms Period

Memories of the Battle at Red Cliff