At the left hand of 曹操 Defender of Yǎn! The one-eyed terror— Blind Xiàhóu!! [Xiàhóu Dūn] I despise both of those names. At Púyáng, beneath Lu Bu’s banners, An arrow found its mark; I lost an eye, the daylight reddened, Still we fought into the dark. They say I drew the shaft and raised The ruin to the sky: “Blood of mother! Flesh of father!” Then I ate my own left eye. It’s vivid. It’s revolting. I admit the story thrives. It appeared a thousand years After all of us had died. Truth makes a poor recruiting pitch Unless that truth can bleed; Helping peasants dig rice ditches Is not the tale they need. I kept my eye on the prize While the age was going blind, Held the road for 曹操, Kept my oath while lords changed sides. I was loyal, I was learned, Made green from dust and flies— But the only damned thing they remember— [Soldiers] HE ATE HIS EYE! [Xiàhóu Dūn] That's not—ugh. whatever. At 博望, 李典 warned me, “That retreat is far too tidy.” I chased 刘备 through the brush And found what he’d been hiding. Yes, I lost. I have commanded. Sometimes orders go awry. You need not make a man eat himself To prove that he would fight. I was wounded, I was beaten; I was never made divine. I simply rose the morning after And returned to hold the line. Any fool looks undefeated When the losses are erased; A man is measured by the burden He returns each day to face. I watched the house of 汉 go hollow, Every oath put up for sale; Men with two good eyes changed banners Every time the wind prevailed. I chose 曹操 at the beginning. Stood with him until the end. If you need a feat worth singing, Sing I never left my friend. More than what a man has suffered, More than tales his wounds inspire, Are the fields he leaves in harvest And the hands he lifts from mire. I kept my eye on the prize While the age was going blind, Held the road for 曹操, Kept my oath while lords changed sides. I was loyal, I was learned, Made green from dust and flies— But the only damned thing they remember— [Soldiers] HE ATE HIS EYE! [Xiàhóu Dūn] I am surrounded by idiots. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ © 2026 The Badfatler All rights reserved.
