寂寞天寶後，After the era of Tain-Bao,

園廬但蒿藜。my hometown was left weeds.

我里百餘家，Over a hundred poverty-stricken neighbors,

世亂各東西。run away from their homes. 

存者無訊息，The survivals had no news;

死者為塵泥。The dead had become mud. 

賤子因陣敗，I was defeated in battle,

歸來尋舊蹊。seeking the lost way home.

久行見空巷，Empty lanes could I find.

日瘦氣慘淒，In blurs, all were invisible,

但對狐與狸，except those hair-erecting vulpine things,

豎毛怒我啼。that were howling at me.

四鄰何所有，Who was left here anyway?

一二老寡妻。a couple of old widows.

宿鳥戀本枝    Bird clinged to its branch

安辭且窮棲。Id go nowhere but staying.

方春獨荷鋤，In spring I went farming,

日暮還灌畦。and watering fields until evening.

縣吏知我至，An official noticed my presence,

召令習鼓鞞。 ordering me to practice fighting.

雖從本州役， Though taking local military service,

內顧無所攜。  I didnt worry about home,

近行止一身，  because I had nothing there, 

遠去終轉迷。  Uncertainties awaited me from afar.

家鄉既盪盡，  Now that everything was gone,

遠近理亦齊。  Distance was meaningless to me.

永痛長病母，  Grievance was the bedridden mother;

五年委溝溪。  whod died five years unburied.  

生我不得力，  She raised me without compensation.

終身兩酸嘶。  Both of us wept endlessly.

人生無家別，  A man had no family, 

何以為蒸黎。  What a human he was!