为了向英语世界人民介绍中国优秀的古典文化,艾黎充分发挥自己具有深厚中国文化修养的优势,将大量的中国古典诗歌翻译成英文,在英语世界传播。在学习中国文化,研究中国历史的过程中,艾黎了解了杜甫,他对中国历史上这位伟大的诗人推崇备至。杜甫的诗歌与精神也对艾黎产生了非常大的影响。
春望国破山河在,城春草木深。
感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。
烽火连三月，家书抵万金。
白头搔更短，浑欲不胜簪。
SPRING-THE LONG VIEW
Even though a state is crushed
Its hills and streams remain;
Now inside the walls of Chang'an
Grasses rise high among unpruned trees;
Seeing flowers come, a flood
Of sadness overwhelms me; cut off
As I am, songs of birds stir
My heart; third month and still
Beacon fires flare as they did
Last year; to get news
From home would be worth a full
Thousand pieces of gold;
Trying to knot up my hair
I find it grey, too thin
For my pin to hold it together.
