Pass By Huaiyin and the Hanxin Shrine: Two Poems: No. 2
过 淮 阴 县 题 韩 信 庙； 前 用 唐 律， 后 用 进 退 格： 二 首
鸿 沟 只 道 万 夫 雄
云 梦 何 销 武 士 功？
九 死 不 分 天 下 鼎
一 生 还 负 室 前 钟？
古 来 犬 毙 愁 无 盖
此 后 禽 空 悔 作 弓。
兵 火 荒 余 非 旧 庙
三 间 破 屋 两 株 松。
Guo Huai Yin Xian Ti Han Xin Miao; Qian Yong Tang Lu, Hou Yong Jin Tui Ge: Er Shou
Hong gou zhi dao wan fu xiong
Yun meng he xiao wu shi gong?
Jiu si bu fen tian xi ding
Yi sheng huan fu shi qian zhong?
Gu lai quan bi chou wu gai
Ci hou qin kong hui zuo gong.
Bing huo huang yu fei jiu miao
San jian po wu liang zhu song.
Pass By Huaiyin and the Hanxin Shrine: Two Poems: No. 2
Natural as wild geese waterways, Hanxin alone gained the power of a thousand men
Did emperor Liu Bang’s dream cancel Hanxin’g military and intellectual success?
After many military battles he did not ask to be given some imperial land as a payment or reward
But did the emperor give him instead a death in front of palace bells?
Confucius kept his old tents and camp supplies to bury his dogs and horse who died along the way
Without effective bows, the birds will simply fly away.
Hanxin’s shrine and grave under round after round of weapon fire
All that is left are a few house ruins and two pine tree stumps.
Notes:
Huaiyin: Ancient name for a city in central Jiangsu Province. Today known as “Huai’an”. Located on the Huai River, connected to the Grand Canal. The river is considered the border between northern and southern China.
Hanxin: (231-196 BC) Army general and politician who served Liu Bang. He is considered one of the “Three Heroes of the Han Dynasty”.
Zhangliang: (ca. 251-189 BC) Military strategist during the early Western Han Dynasty. Also one of the “Three Heroes of the Han Dynasty”.