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,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。

国破山河在,城春草木深。

感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。

烽火连三月，家书抵万金。

白头搔更短，浑欲不胜簪。

SPRING-THE LONG VIEW

Even though a state is crushed

Its hills and streams remain;

Now inside the walls of Chang'an

Grasses rise high among unpruned trees;

Seeing flowers come, a flood

Of sadness overwhelms me; cut off

As I am, songs of birds stir

My heart; third month and still

Beacon fires flare as they did

Last year; to get news

From home would be worth a full

Thousand pieces of gold;

Trying to knot up my hair

I find it grey, too thin

For my pin to hold it together.