Spring Prospect

The Capital［1］ is in shatters,

　Though hills and rills are still there.

The spring comes to the City,

　Yet sees weeds and shrubs everywhere.

The flowers catch my tears,

　As if feel my lamentation.

Flitting birds startle my heart,

　As I’m being vexed at separation.

The beacon fires have been burning

　For three months so far this year.

I would give ten thousand in gold

　For a letter from home to arrive here.

Worried scratching of head

　Causes my hair to become thin,

Soon there will not be enough

　Of it to hold a hairpin.

1) At the end of 755, An Lushan, a general of Sogdian-Turkish origin, revolted against the Tang Dynasty with his Tartar troops. In July 756, seeing that it was under imminent threat, the Emperor abandoned Changan, the imperial capital. On the discovery of his departure, panic and looting broke out in the city which fell to the Tartar troops shortly afterwards. It is generally believed that Du Fu was captured by a group of rebels and taken by them, perhaps as a porter, to the capital where the poem was composed.