Recruiting Officer of Shih-Hao (
Tu Fu)
At dusk I sough lodging at
Shih-hao village,
When a
recruiting officer came to seize men at night.
An old man scaled the wall and fled,
His old wife came out to answer the door
How furious was the officer's shout!
How pitiable was the woman's cry!
I listened as she stepped forward to speak:
"All my three sons have left for garrison duty at
Yeh;
From one of them a letter just arrived,
Saying my two sons had newly died in battle.
Survivors an manage to live on,
But the dead are gone forever.
Now there's no other man in the house,
Only a grandchild at his mother's breast.
The child's mother has not gone away;
She has only a tattered skirt for wear.
An old woman, I am feeble and weak,
But I will gladly leave with you tonight
To answer the call at
Ho-yang--
I can still cook morning gruel for your men"
The night drew on, but talking stopped;
It seemed I heard only half-concealed sobs
As I got back on the road at daybreak
Only the old man was there to see me off.
(
Translator: Victor Mair)