Li Yu: Forty Years Ago This Country Came to Be: (Broken Period of Time)

Forty Years Ago This County Came to Be: (Broken Period of Time)

四 十 年 来 家 国:  破 阵 子

四 十 年 来 家 国
三 千 里 城 山 河。
凤 阁 龙 连 宵 汉
玉 树 琼 枝 作 烟 萝。

几 曾 识 干 戈？
一 旦 归 为 臣 虏
沈 腰 潘 鬓 消 磨。
最 是 仓 皇 辞 庙 日
教 坊 犹 奏 别 离 歌。
垂 泪 对 宫 娥。

Si Shi Nian Lai Jia Guo: (Po Zhen Zi)

Si shi nian lai jia guo
San qian li di shan he.
Feng ge long lian xiao han
Yu shu qiong zhi zuo yan luo.

Ji ceng shi gan ge?
Yi dan gui wei chen lu
Shen yao pan bin xiao mo.
Zui shi cang huang ci miao ri
Jiao fang you zou bie li ge.
Chui lei dui gong e.

Forty Years Ago This County Came to Be: (Broken Period of Time)

Forty years ago this country came to be
For one thousand miles the earth with mountains and rivers.
Phoenix pavilions and dragon towers were connected to the Milky Way
Exquisite jade-like trees and branches, vines ascend into the mists.

How many of our descendants will know of using our battleaxes?
Suddenly one day I was made an official prisoner.
Lost a lot of weight, temple hair worn down and away
Took leave from home in such a panic could not perform the proper rites.
Heard songs of departure from those who teach and perform musical concerts
Palace and court workers with many tears falling down.

Notes:

Written during Li’s captivity in the Song prison.