【破陣子】 南唐 • 李煜

Another poetry (Chi) by famous Li Yu, the last emporer of South Tang Dynasty:

【破陣子】 南唐 • 李煜

四十年來家國，三千里地山河。

 鳳閣龍樓連霄漢，玉樹瓊枝作煙蘿。

 幾曾識干戈？

 一旦歸為臣虜，沈腰潘鬢消磨。

 最是倉皇辭廟日，教坊猶奏別離歌，

 垂淚對宮娥！

 

Poetry Tune “Cracking the enemy’s confrontation” by Li Yu(937-978), Tang Dynasty

 

It’s been my country and homeland for forty years,

So fair were the mountains and rivers, stretching three thousand miles. 

 

Clusters of phoenix towers, dragon palaces stand against the sky without bound,

Countless laurel trees, rare flower bushes like smoke and creeping plants around.

 

When do I know what is war?

Once I surrendered and being a captive and subordinate,

My hair turned white and waist became slack day after day.

 

The very day I hastily fled my palace with fears,

The Royal Academy was still playing a farewell tune,

There is nothing I can do but face my beauties with tears too soon!