History & Politics
Crossing the Frontier (I)
Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell (1921) · From Fir-Flower Tablets (1921)
When bows are bent, they should be bent strongly;
When arrows are used, they should be long.
The bow-men should first shoot the horses.
In taking the enemy prisoner, the Leader should first be taken;
There should be no limit to the killing of men.
In making a kingdom, there must naturally be a boundary.
If it were possible to regulate usurpation,
Would so many be killed and wounded?
Cite this poem
MLA
Fu, Tu. “Crossing the Frontier (I).” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tu-fu/21/.
Chicago
Fu, Tu. “Crossing the Frontier (I).” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tu-fu/21/.
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