Poem: Drumming

I like this poem. It talks about a soldier who missed his wife while he was forced to fight somewhere far away from home. He was sad because he knew that he would not be able to meet his wife again and won't be able to keep his promise which he told his wife that he would hold her hands to age until death sets them apart.

This poem is from Shi Jing (Classic of Poetry, the Book of Songs or the Book of Odes) which comprises 305 poems, some possibly written as early as 1000~1100 BC till 400~500 BC.

<詩經‧國風‧邶‧擊鼓>

毛詩序：「《擊鼓》，怨州吁也。衞州吁用兵暴亂，使公孫文仲將而平陳與宋，國人怨其勇而無禮也。」

擊鼓

擊鼓其鏜，踴躍用兵，土國城漕，我獨南行。
從孫子仲，平陳與宋，不我以歸，憂心有忡。
爰居爰處，爰喪其馬，於以求之，於林之下。
死生契闊，與子成說，執子之手，與子偕老。
於嗟闊兮，不我活兮，於嗟洵兮，不我信兮。

《擊鼓》，五章，章四句。

註解

擊鼓聲鏜鏜（震於耳旁），（將士們）奮勇演練著刀槍。土牆和漕城修築正忙，惟有我隨軍遠徵到南方。
跟隨孫子仲（行旅奔波），平定（作亂的）陳、宋二國，回家的心願得不到允可，心中鬱鬱憂愁不樂，
（我卻）身在何方，身處何地？ 我的馬兒丟失在哪裡？到哪裡（才能）將它尋覓？到那（山間的）林泉之地。
生生死死離離合合，（無論如何）我與你說過。與你的雙手交相執握，伴著你一起垂垂老去。
可嘆如今散落天涯，怕有生之年難回家鄉。可嘆如今天各一方，令我的信約竟成了空話。

(note)
以史證詩－－毛奇齡讀《詩經．邶風．擊鼓》 suggests a different historical background to what other people discussed about this poem in the past.