The great river eastward flows,with its waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years.
West of the ancient fortress appears the Red Cliff.
Here General Zhou won his early fame when the Three Kingdoms were all aflame.
Jagged rocks tower in the air,swashing waves beat on the shore,rolling up a thousand heaps of snow.
To match the hills and the river so fair,
How many heroes brave of yore made a great show!
I fancy General Zhou at the height of his success,with a plume fan in hand,
In a silk hood,so brave and bright,laughing and jesting with his bride so fair,
While enemy ships were destroyed as planned like shadowy castles in the air.
Should their souls revisit this land,sentimental,his wife would laugh to say,
Younger than they,I have my hair all turned gray.
Life is but like a passing dream,
I’d drink to the moon which once saw them on the stream.