这首诗在徐陵的《玉台新咏》中题作《留别妻》，旧传为苏武初出使时留别妻子之作。然而今读诗中“征夫怀往路”、“行役在战场”诸语，诗中的主人公应是一个即将应征出战的青年男子，作品所表现的也是汉代末期常见的征夫别妻的主题。

《别妻》 苏武

结发为夫妻，恩爱两不疑。
欢娱在今夕，燕婉及良时。
征夫怀远路，起视夜何其。
参晨皆已没，去去从此辞。
行役在战场，相见未有期。
握手一长欢，泪为生别滋。
努力爱春华，莫忘欢乐时。
生当复来归，死当长相思。

A Soldier's Farewell to His Wife

My dear wife, you and I have been as one,
No doubt has marred the faith, which love has won,
Our chief desire throughout the married state
Has been of love and joy to give and take.

But now, alas! the Joy of Spring departs,
And sorrow's shafts must enter both our hearts;
I cannot sleep; I must arise and see
The time; ah, me, how quick the hours so flee!

Awake, my dearest, for the stars have set,
The grief of parting must be bravely met;
And yet the dreary marches weight my mind;—
As though defiles and desert plains they wind.

And then, at last the awful battle-field,
Where I must fight and naught to foemen yield;
But, oh! the bitter, paralyzing pain—
To think that we may never meet again!

I must let fall the long restrained tears
As, clasping hand, you calm my anxious fears;
If not, my heart will break with sighs repressed
To hear your love so tenderly confessed.

But courage, we will think of Young Love's day,
And all the pleasures which therein did stay;
And this shall cheer me on the toilsome road,
And help you here to bear your weary load.

Then with what joy we shall renew our life,
When I return safe from the dreadful strife;
But if, alas! the Fates should death decree,
My spirit will for ever live with thee.