The Moon over the West River
Jinggangshan

(autumn 1928)

Flags and banners in sight below the hilltop,

Drums and bugles mingle atop the hill.

Foe encircles us, ring upon ring,

But we stand fast, unmoved like the mountain.

Already our defence is rock-strong,

Now our will unites us like a fortress wall.

From Huangyangjie roars the thunder of guns—

Word comes the foe has fled into the night.

[1] Jinggangshan is located in western Jiangxi and eastern Hunan, covering an area of 500 li in circumference.
[2] Drums and bugles refer originally to the war drums and horns used in ancient armies; here they refer to military bugles.
[3] Unmoved like the mountain: standing lofty and firm.
[4] Huangyangjie is one of the five main passes of Jinggangshan. The other four are Bamianshan, Shuangmashi, Zhushachong, and Tongmuling.