<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 彭衙行>
<Format: 五言古詩>
<Year: 2008>
<BookName: Du Fu A Life in Poetry>
<Translator: David Young>
<TranslatedTitle: THE PENGYA ROAD>
<BookPage: 77-79>
<UsedPage: 3>
<Feature: 1>
<End Header>
<Poem>
憶昔避賊初，
北走經險艱。
夜深彭衙道，
月照白水山。
盡室久徒步，
逢人多厚顏。
參差谷鳥吟，
不見遊子還。
癡女饑咬我，
啼畏虎狼聞。
懷中掩其口，
反側聲愈嗔。
小兒強解事，
故索苦李餐。
一旬半雷雨，
泥濘相牽攀。
既無禦雨備，
徑滑衣又寒。
有時經契闊，
竟日數里間。
野果充餱糧，
卑枝成屋椽。
早行石上水，
暮宿天邊煙。
少留周家窪，
欲出蘆子關。
故人有孫宰，
高義薄曾雲。
延客已曛黑，
張燈啟重門。
暖湯濯我足，
翦紙招我魂。
從此出妻孥，
相視涕闌干。
眾雛爛熳睡，
喚起沾盤餐。
誓將與夫子，
永結為弟昆。
遂空所坐堂，
安居奉我歡。
誰肯艱難際，
豁達露心肝。
別來歲月周，
胡羯仍構患。
何當有翅翎，
飛去墮爾前。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
I remember when we fled the rebels
heading north through danger and hardship

starting out on foot
in the middle of the night

with the moon shining
over White Water Mountain

a very long journey
all of it walking

when we met people on the road
we felt ashamed

now and then
birds sang in the ravines

no one was headed
in the opposite direction

my silly little daughter
bit me in her hunger

afraid that her crying 
might attract tigers

I held her mouth against my chest
she wriggled free and cried louder

my son acted as if he knew
what it was all about

but he kept trying to eat
the bitter plums on the roadside trees

ten days we went, half that time
through thunderstorms

struggling to help each other in the mud
with no protection from the rain

the road was too slippery
our clothes were too thin

some days we couldn't cover
more than a couple of miles

our food was wild berries
our shelter was low branches

mornings we crossed wet, slippery rocks
evenings we camped in mist at the sky's edge

we stopped near Tongjia Marsh
before crossing the Luzi Pass

and my friend Sun Zai
took us in

his generosity
reaches to the clouds

we arrived in pitch-dark
they lit the lamps, opened the gates

the servants brought warm water
to bathe our feet

they cut silhouettes and burned them
to call back our frightened spirits

his wife and children 
came out to greet us

when they saw how we looked
they burst in to tears

my children, exhausted,
had fallen asleep

we woke them so they could eat
from the plattrs of food

Mastr Sun Zai, I swear this vow:
I'm your kin and brother forever

your hall was put at out disposal
and we were told to feel at home

in these bad times where do you find
that kind of trust?

it's a year since we left there
the Tartars are still on the rampage

Sun Zai, I wish I had wings
so I could fly

straight to your house
to see you again!
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
I remember when we fled the rebels
heading north through danger and hardship
starting out on foot in the middle of the night
with the moon shining over White Water Mountain
a very long journey all of it walking
when we met people on the road we felt ashamed
now and then birds sang in the ravines
no one was headed in the opposite direction
my silly little daughter bit me in her hunger
afraid that her crying  might attract tigers
I held her mouth against my chest
she wriggled free and cried louder
my son acted as if he knew what it was all about
but he kept trying to eat the bitter plums on the roadside trees
ten days we went, half that time through thunderstorms
struggling to help each other in the mud with no protection from the rain
the road was too slippery our clothes were too thin
some days we couldn't cover
more than a couple of miles
our food was wild berries
our shelter was low branches
mornings we crossed wet, slippery rocks
evenings we camped in mist at the sky's edge
we stopped near Tongjia Marsh
before crossing the Luzi Pass
and my friend Sun Zai took us in
his generosity reaches to the clouds
we arrived in pitch-dark
they lit the lamps, opened the gates
the servants brought warm water to bathe our feet
they cut silhouettes and burned them to call back our frightened spirits
his wife and children came out to greet us
when they saw how we looked they burst in to tears
my children, exhausted, had fallen asleep
we woke them so they could eat from the plattrs of food
Mastr Sun Zai, I swear this vow:
I'm your kin and brother forever
your hall was put at out disposal
and we were told to feel at home
in these bad times where do you find 
that kind of trust?
it's a year since we left there
the Tartars are still on the rampage
Sun Zai, I wish I had wings so I could fly
straight to your house to see you again!
<End Formatted Translation>