TUNE: PARTRIDGE IN THE SKY

鹧鸪天

While young, beneath my flag I had ten thousand knights;

壮岁旌旗拥万夫，

With these outfitted cavaliers I crossed the river.

锦襜突骑渡江初。

The foe prepared their silver shafts during the nights;

燕兵夜娖银胡，

During the days we shot arrows from golden quiver.

汉箭朝飞金仆姑。

I can’t call those days back

追往事，

But sigh over my plight;

叹今吾，

The vernal wind can’t change my hair from white to black.

春风不染白髭须。

Since thwarted in my plan to recover the lost land,

却将万字平戎策，

I’d learn from neighbors how to plant fruit trees by hand.

换得东家种树书。