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，死者已逝，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。
石壕吏
暮投石壕村，有吏夜捉人。
老翁逾墙走，老妇出门看。
吏呼一何怒，妇啼一何苦！
听妇前致词：三男邺城戍。
一男附书至，二男新战死。
存者且偷生，死者长已矣！
室中更无人，惟有乳下孙。
有孙母未去，出入无完裙。
老妪力虽衰，请从吏夜归。
急应河阳役，犹得备晨炊。
夜久语声绝，如闻泣幽咽。
天明登前途，独与老翁别。
THE CONSCRIPTING OFFICER AT SHIHAO
Sunset and I came to Shihao Village。
Then at night stamped in an official
With pressgang; over the courtyard wall
An old man vanished，his wife going
第一句“死者长已矣”出自唐代杜甫的《石壕吏》，意思是“死去的人就永远不会复生了”。第二句“戚戚”参考“君子坦荡荡，小人长戚戚” ，此句出自《论语·述而》，表示时时忧虑，整句“生者常戚戚”的意思是“活着的人常。
To the door to meet demands as best
存者且偷生，死者长已矣。室中更无人，惟有乳下孙。有孙母未去，出入无完裙。老妪力虽衰，请从吏夜归。急应河阳役，犹得备晨炊。夜久语声绝，如闻泣幽咽。天明登前途，独与老翁别。释义：日暮时投宿石壕村，夜里有。
She could; in a raging temper the officer
Swore at her，she replying bitterly
So that I heard her every word:
实际上,“吏呼一何怒,妇啼一何苦!”不仅发生在事件的开头,而且持续到事件的结尾。从“三男邺城戍”到“死者长已矣”,是第一次转折。读者可以想见,这是针对县吏的第一次逼问诉苦的。在这以前,诗人已用“有吏夜捉人”一句写出。
"I have had three sons taken to be
Soldiers at Yecheng; from one
Came a letter saying his two brothers
Had been killed; he knew not
On which day he himself would die; now
In this house there lives but
A baby grandson whose mother
存者且偷生,死者长已矣!室中更无人,惟有乳下孙.有孙母未去,出入无完裙.老妪力虽衰,请从吏夜归.急应河阳役,犹得备晨炊.”夜久语声绝,如闻泣幽咽.天明登前途,独与老翁别 。
Still suckles him，she without
I am an old woman，without much strength
But I can go with you to the battle
At Heyang，there I can cook; take me。
Spare them!"
听妇前致词：三男邺城戍。一男附书至，二男新战死。存者且偷生，死者长已矣！室中更无人，惟有乳下孙。有孙母未去，出入无完裙。老妪力虽衰，请从吏夜归。急应河阳役，犹得备晨炊。夜久语声绝，如闻泣幽咽。
Night wore on，and the sound
Of voices died away，leaving but
The low sound of sobbing; dawn when
I rose to go，there remained only
The old man to bid me goodbye.
