liáng凉zhōu州cí词

"Song of Liangzhou" was originally the name of a popular Tang tune. Liangzhou was around today's Wuwei in Gansu, an important frontier region in the northwest. Many poets wrote words to this tune about life on the frontier. Wang Han wrote two; this is the first. We do not know the year it was written. The poem shows frontier soldiers drinking before they go into battle.

《凉州词》本来是唐朝流行的一种曲子的名字。凉州在今甘肃武威一带，是西北的边塞重地。很多诗人都按这个曲子填过词，写边塞的生活。王翰写了两首，这是第一首。这首诗写于哪一年，现在不清楚。诗里写的是边塞将士在出征前喝酒的场面。

Wang Han was a Tang poet from Jinyang in Bingzhou, today's Taiyuan in Shanxi. His exact birth and death years are not known. He passed the highest imperial examination. He was bold and free, loved wine, and kept many horses and singers at home. Few of his poems survive, but this one is very famous.

王翰，字子羽，并州晋阳（今山西太原）人，唐朝诗人，生卒年不详。他考中过进士，性格豪放，喜欢喝酒，家里养着很多马和歌伎。他留下来的诗很少，但这首《凉州词》非常有名。

The poem opens with a lively feast. Grape wine and glowing jade cups were rare treasures from the western lands, bright and colourful: this is clearly a party on the frontier. Just as the cups are raised, the pipa starts to play, and everyone drinks even more freely. The third line turns: "If I lie drunk on the battlefield, please don't laugh at me." The fourth line gives the reason: since ancient times, how many who went to war came back? This sounds bold, as if the soldier does not care about life or death. But think about it, and there is a deep sadness inside. Because they may not come back tomorrow, they drink their fill today. Boldness and sorrow are mixed together, and that is what makes the poem so moving.

这首诗一开头就很热闹：葡萄美酒、夜光杯，都是西域来的稀罕东西，颜色鲜亮，一看就是边塞的宴会。正要举杯，琵琶声响起来了，大家喝得更痛快。第三句话锋一转：“喝醉了躺在战场上，你可别笑话我。”第四句说出原因：自古以来去打仗的人，有几个能回来？这句话听上去很豪迈，好像不把生死放在心上；可仔细想想，里面也有说不出的悲凉。正因为明天可能回不来，今天才要痛痛快快地喝。豪放和悲伤混在一起，这就是这首诗打动人的地方。