Original poem:
The drums of the defenders cut off people's communication, and a lonely goose was singing in autumn in the frontier.
The dew turns to frost tonight, and the moonlight at home is bright!
Brothers are scattered, and no one can ask about life and death.
Letters sent to Luoyang city are often not delivered, and wars often do not stop.
Translation:
The drums of martial law have never stopped, and there is no figure on the streets of the border town. In autumn on the border, you can hear the moans of lonely geese every day. The sound is really heartbreaking. Today is the Millennium Festival. From now on, the weather will get colder every day. Although the moon is big and round tonight, it always feels less bright and amiable than the moon in my hometown.
My brothers are now separated from each other; Hometown is gone, even relatives are alive or dead. It really breaks my heart. Although I have tried to send a message from someone, I can't send it to them. Alas, what's more, it's too difficult to get news from my brothers at the moment of war.
Source: Du Fu's Remembering Brothers on a Moonlit Night in the Tang Dynasty.
Poetry appreciation
This poem was written by Du Fu in Qin Zhou in the autumn of 759 AD (the second year of Gan Yuan). In September this year, during the Anshi Rebellion, An Lushan and Shi Siming led troops from Fan Yang to the south, captured Bianzhou and entered Luoyang in the west. Shandong and Henan are at war. At that time, Du Fu's younger brothers were scattered in this area, and because of the war, there was no communication, which made him feel intense anxiety and yearning.
The artistic conception of the whole poem is sad and touching. The poet describes his personal family experience with the fate of the country, with simple and natural language, simple words and deep feelings, especially the close connection between Moonlit Night and Remembering My Brother, which makes the feelings and scenes blend and move deeply.