Original poem:

After the song of the great river, we turn eastward, and the sophisticated science and technology help the poor in the world.

After facing the wall for ten years and trying to break through it, it is difficult to be rewarded by being a hero even if you cross the sea.

Translation:

After singing the heroic song, he resolutely turned around and headed east, in order to study science carefully to save the country from danger.

I have been facing the wall for ten years, hoping to be like the dragon that breaks through the wall and flies away. Even if my ideal is difficult to realize and I throw myself into the sea to my death, I can still be regarded as a hero.

Writing background: This poem was written in 1917, on the eve of the author's study in Japan, when he was 19 years old.

Extended information:

At that time, the Chinese people were in dire straits. The 19-year-old Zhou Enlai made up his mind to go to Japan to find the theory, science and methods to reform society and strengthen the country. He vowed to achieve this goal without fear of any hardships, even if he had to go through thick and thin. From an artistic point of view, this poem evokes emotions from the scene, the song is generous, the allusion is precise, and the words are close and the purpose is far-reaching. It is heart-warming to read.

The last sentence "It is difficult to reward a hero even if he crosses the sea" shows his heroic spirit of giving up studying abroad for the needs of the revolution. "It's difficult to cross the sea for a reward" can be understood in two ways. The first understanding is that it is difficult to achieve the ambition of crossing the sea, that is to say, it is not possible to go abroad to seek the truth, but it is still a hero to engage in revolution.

The second understanding is that even if you fail to realize your revolutionary ideals and die by jumping into the sea, you can still be said to be a hero. A recent man, Chen Tianhua, studied in Japan. In order to wake up the sleeping Chinese people, he resolutely committed suicide in 1905 as a warning. Zhou Enlai's use of the word "crossing the sea" at the end of the poem must be related to Chen Tianhua's deeds.