司空曙: 贼平后送人北归/ sikiong shu: to a friend bound north after the rebellion

贼平后送人北归

司空曙

世乱同南去， 时清独北还。

他乡生白发， 旧国见青山。

晓月过残垒， 繁星宿故关。

寒禽与衰草， 处处伴愁颜。

　

to a friend bound north after the rebellion

sikiong shu

in dangerous times we two came south;

now you go north in safety, without me.

but remember my head growing white among strangers,

when you look on the blue of the mountains of home.

...the moon goes down behind a ruined fort,

leaving star-clusters above an old gate....

there are shivering birds and withering grasses,

whichever way i turn my face.