Thuật hoài

Thuật hoài (literally: Express) is one of two poems which are still exist of Phạm Ngũ Lão (1255-1320), a famous general of Trần dynasty.

Introduction

This is a seven-word four-line poem (Vietnamese: thất ngôn tứ tuyệt) written by Hán word. Its composition time is not known.

1

橫

Hoành

槊

sóc

江

giang

山

sơn

恰

kháp

幾

kỷ

秋

thu,

橫 槊 江 山 恰 幾 秋

Hoành sóc giang sơn kháp kỷ thu,

Kept the spear transversely in homeland for many years,

2

三

Tam

軍

quân

貔

tì

虎

hổ

氣

khí

吞

thôn

牛

ngưu.

三 軍 貔 虎 氣 吞 牛

Tam quân tì hổ khí thôn ngưu.

Three Squad is as tough as tiger and leopard, Ch'i is strong enough to gulp a buffalo (or Ch'i is so strong that can overwhelm Taurus constellation).

3

男

Nam

兒

nhi

未

vị

了

liễu

功

công

名

danh

債

trái,

男 兒 未 了 功 名 債

Nam nhi vị liễu công danh trái,

As a man who did not pay honor doubt,

3

羞

Tu

聽

thính

人

nhân

間

gian

說

thuyết

武侯

Vũ hầu.

羞 聽 人 間 說 武侯

Tu thính nhân gian thuyết Vũ hầu.

Then he will be ashamed to hear about Zhuge.