Moon over the Mountain Passes
The bright moon rises above the heavenly mountains,
Amid a boundless sea of clouds.
A long wind travels countless miles,
Blowing across the Jade Gate Pass.
Han troops once went down the road to Baideng;
Frontier forces watched the shores of Qinghai.
On battlefields through the ages,
Few have been seen returning.
Those on garrison look toward the border town,
Their faces troubled by longing for home.
In a high room on this very night,
The sighs of those waiting may not cease.
Notes
The title is an old Yuefu song title. The mountain name has differing interpretations; the Jade Gate Pass was in the northwest. Baideng evokes Han-era conflict, while the term Hu is a historical designation. Frontier town has textual variants; the high room evokes those waiting at home.
Meaning
Moon and wind over the frontier lead to reflections on war, soldiers longing for home and those waiting for them.
Appreciation
Moon, clouds, wind and pass open the poem on a broad scale.
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Historical place names introduce warfare; the rarity of return is a poetic generalisation, not a casualty statistic.
The final lines connect soldiers longing for home with people waiting in a high room.
Historical names should be interpreted within their own context.
About the poet
Li Bai (c. 701–762), courtesy name Taibai, was a Tang poet whose travels inspired many poems about landscapes, friendship and journeys.
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Life: Li Bai grew up in the Shu region and traveled widely. He was summoned to serve at the Tang court before continuing his journeys.
Works: His poems include Thoughts on a Quiet Night, Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu and To Wang Lun.