An Old Friend Lost in Tibet
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
城下没全师。
蕃汉断消息，
死生长别离。
无人收废帐，
归马识残旗。
欲祭疑君在，
天涯哭此时。
English translation
Two years ago you garrisoned Yuezhi, beneath its walls the whole army was lost.
Between Tang and Tartar all news is cut, dead or living, a long, long parting.
No one gathers up the abandoned tents, the returned horse knows the tattered flag.
I would sacrifice, still half hoping you live, and here at the world's end I weep.
Meaning
Two years ago he set out on campaign against the Yuezhi, and the whole army was wiped out beneath the city wall.
All word between the Tibetans and the Han has been completely cut off, and you and I are parted by life and death, separated forever.
On the battlefield no one gathers up the abandoned tents, and the horses that came back still know the torn banners.
I would make offering to you, yet I doubt whether you are still alive; at this moment I can only face the edge of the sky and weep aloud.