What's the meaning of "discovering that half of our friends are dead makes us shocked, and sadness burns our hearts" and the whole poem?

Half of my old friends have passed away, and I have to lament repeatedly because of my inner agitation.

From the work "Eight Guards for Chu Shi" by Du Fu, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty.

Excerpts are as follows:

It is almost as difficult for friends to meet each other as the stars in the morning and evening.

Tonight is a rare event, and this lamp is candlelight.

Two men who were young not long ago now have gray temples.

It shocked us to find that half of our friends had died, which made us sad.

The translation is as follows:

The journey of life is often difficult to meet after parting, just like it is difficult to meet stars and businessmen.

Tonight is another auspicious day. Let's talk by candlelight.

How many youthful and energetic years can there be? In a blink of an eye, you and I have cleared the air.

Half of my old friends have passed away, and I have to lament repeatedly because of my inner agitation.

Extended data:

Creation background

This poem may have been written by Du Fu when he joined the army in Gan Yuan, Tang Suzong in 759. In the winter of the first year of Gan Yuan (758), Du Fu was demoted to join the army and was appointed as the secretariat of Huazhou. In winter, Du Fu asked for leave to return to Luoyang, the eastern capital, to visit Lu Hunzhuang, his former residence. In March of the second year of Gan Yuan, the division of Jiujidu was defeated in Yecheng, Du Fu returned to Huazhou from Luoyang via Tongguan, Wei Ba's family was in Fengxian, and Du Fu passed through here when he turned around.

In Fengxian, Du Fu visited his boyhood friend Wei Ba Chu Shi who lived in the countryside. Occasional meeting and hasty farewell have produced a sigh that most people have separated from each other in chaotic times and the world has changed, so I wrote this emotional work and presented it to Wei Ba Chu Shi.

Brief introduction of the author

Du fu (7 12 ~ 770), with beautiful words, tried to call himself "Shaoling night old". Take Jinshi as an example. He used to be a foreign minister in the school department, so he was called Du Gongbu internationally. He is the greatest realistic poet in the Tang Dynasty, and is known as the "poet saint" after the Song Dynasty, and is also called "Du Li" with Li Bai. His poems boldly exposed the social contradictions at that time and expressed deep sympathy for the poor people.

Many excellent works show the historical process of the Tang Dynasty from prosperity to decline, which is called "the history of poetry". In art, he is good at using various forms of poetry, especially rhythmic poetry; Various styles, mainly depression; Refined language with high expressive force. There are more than 1400 poems, including Du Gongbu Collection.

Baidu Encyclopedia-For Wei Ba Chu Shi