The Soldier


    I CLIMBED the barren mountain,
         And my gaze swept far and wide
    For the red-lit eaves of my father's home,
         And I fancied that he sighed:
             My son has gone for a soldier,
                 For a soldier night and day;
             But my son is wise, and may yet return,
                 When the drums have died away.
    I climbed the grass-clad mountain,
         And my gaze swept far and wide
    For the rosy lights of a little room,
         Where I thought my mother sighed:
             My boy has gone for a soldier
                 He sleeps not day and night;
             But my boy is wise, and may yet return,
                 Though the dead lie far from sight.

    I climbed the topmost summit,
         And my gaze swept far and wide
    For the garden roof where my brother stood,
         And I fancied that he sighed:
             My brother serves as a soldier
                  With his comrades night and day;
             But my brother is wise, and may yet return,
                 Though the dead lie far away.

        Confucius  [translation by C.E.R]