The Moon Festival

Su shi

When will the moon be clear and bright?

With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

I don't know what season it would be in the heavens on this night.

I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me.

Dancing with my moon-lit shadow,

It does not seem like the human world.

The moon rounds the red mansion stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines upon the sleepless Bearing no grudge,

Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,

The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane,

This has been going on since the beginning of time.

May we all be blessed with longevity though far apart,

We are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

Note: This is a famous Mid-Autumn lyric written by Sushi(a poet in Song Dynasty) for his brother Zi-you(1039-1112) when the poet was away from the imperial court. According to some commentators, "the palace on high" might allude to the imperial palace and therefore, after reading this lyric, Emperor Song Shen Zong said that Su Shi was loyal.

The Moon

R.L.Stevenson

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;

She shines on thieves on the garden wall.

On streets and fields and harbour quays,

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squwaking mouse,

A Moonlit Night on The Spring River

Zhangruoxu(Tang Dynasty)

In spring the river rises as high as the sea,

And with the river's rise the moon uprises bright.

She follows the rolling waves for ten thousand li,

And where the river flows, there overflows her light.

The river winds around the fragrant islet where

The blooming flowers in her light all look like snow.

You cannot tell her beams from hoar frost in the air,

Nor from white sand upon Farewell Beach below.

No dust has stained the water blending with the skies;

A lonely wheel like moon shines brilliant far and wide.

Who by the riverside first saw the moon arise?

When did the moon first see a man by riverside?

Ah, generations have come and pasted away;

From year to year the moons look alike, old and new.

We do not know tonight for whom she sheds her ray,

But hear the river say to its water adieu.

Away, away is sailing a single cloud white;

On Farewell Beach pine away maples green.

Where is the wanderer sailing his boat tonight?

Who, pining away, on the moonlit rails would learn?

Alas! The moon is lingering over the tower;

It should have seen the dressing table of the fair.

She rolls the curtain up and light comes in her bower;

She washes but can't wash away the moonbeams there.

She sees the moon, but her beloved is out of sight;

She'd follow it to shine on her beloved one's face.

But message-bearing swans can't fly out of moonlight,

Nor can letter-sending fish leap out of their place.

Last night he dreamed that falling flowers would not stay.

Alas! He can't go home, although half spring has gone.

The running water bearing spring will pass away;

The moon declining over the pool will sink anon.

The moon declining sinks into a heavy mist;

It's a long way between southern rivers and eastern seas.

How many can go home by moonlight who are missed?

The sinking moon sheds yearning o'er riverside trees.