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Green-Head Duck / Duo Li: Mid-Autumn Moonlit Reverie
English Poetic Translation
The evening clouds retreat, and the pale sky becomes a sheet of gleaming glass.
A brilliant silver disc ascends from the ocean deeps,
its luminous clarity bathing a thousand miles in crystalline light.
Flawless and pure, the lunar maiden stands in quiet grace,
where one might almost count the uneven branches of the cinnamon tree.
Jade dews begin to fall, and the golden autumn wind is not yet biting;
in all the turning year, no other hour can match this perfect night.
Sitting long in the settling dew, scattered fireflies occasionally cross the dark,
and magpies fly purposefully toward the south.
The jade terrace grows cool, yet leaning against the balustrade warmth lingers,
as the moon chariot descends with slow, measured steps.
I think of my beloved, parted from me across a silence of dust and news;
facing such brilliance, she surely feels this mutual longing.
Most poignant of all, the water-clock sounds stretch through the long hours,
while stealthily, breaking the heart, flower shadows shift across the ground.
I reckon that tomorrow night, the pristine light will not have waned,
yet wind and cloud are fickle—who can know if skies will stay clear?
Together we share this concentrated yearning, parted now as we are,
meeting again only across the span of another year.
If we remain strong and well, our clear wine cups and pale shadows
will forever desire to follow one another.
A brilliant silver disc ascends from the ocean deeps,
its luminous clarity bathing a thousand miles in crystalline light.
Flawless and pure, the lunar maiden stands in quiet grace,
where one might almost count the uneven branches of the cinnamon tree.
Jade dews begin to fall, and the golden autumn wind is not yet biting;
in all the turning year, no other hour can match this perfect night.
Sitting long in the settling dew, scattered fireflies occasionally cross the dark,
and magpies fly purposefully toward the south.
The jade terrace grows cool, yet leaning against the balustrade warmth lingers,
as the moon chariot descends with slow, measured steps.
I think of my beloved, parted from me across a silence of dust and news;
facing such brilliance, she surely feels this mutual longing.
Most poignant of all, the water-clock sounds stretch through the long hours,
while stealthily, breaking the heart, flower shadows shift across the ground.
I reckon that tomorrow night, the pristine light will not have waned,
yet wind and cloud are fickle—who can know if skies will stay clear?
Together we share this concentrated yearning, parted now as we are,
meeting again only across the span of another year.
If we remain strong and well, our clear wine cups and pale shadows
will forever desire to follow one another.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
晚雲收，淡天一片琉璃。
爛銀盤、來從海底，皓色千里澄輝。
瑩無塵、素娥淡佇，靜可數、丹桂參差。
玉露初零，金風未凜，一年無似此佳時。
露坐久，疏瑩時度，烏鵲正南飛。
瑤臺冷，欄干憑暖，玉下遲遲。
念佳人，音塵別後，對此應解相思。
最關情、漏聲正永，暗斷腸、花影偷移。
料得來宵，清光未減，陰晴天氣又爭知。
共凝戀、如今別後，還是隔年期。
人強健，清尊素影，長願相隨。
爛銀盤、來從海底，皓色千里澄輝。
瑩無塵、素娥淡佇，靜可數、丹桂參差。
玉露初零，金風未凜，一年無似此佳時。
露坐久，疏瑩時度，烏鵲正南飛。
瑤臺冷，欄干憑暖，玉下遲遲。
念佳人，音塵別後，對此應解相思。
最關情、漏聲正永，暗斷腸、花影偷移。
料得來宵，清光未減，陰晴天氣又爭知。
共凝戀、如今別後，還是隔年期。
人強健，清尊素影，長願相隨。
Philological Direct Translation
Late clouds gather, faint sky a piece of colored glaze.
Brilliant silver plate, coming from ocean bottom, bright color a thousand miles of pure radiance.
Gleaming without dust, lunar goddess quietly stands, still can be counted, cassia trees uneven.
Jade dews first fall, golden wind not yet biting, a year has nothing resembling this fine time.
Dew sitting long, sparse fireflies occasionally passing, magpies flying directly south.
Jade terrace cold, balustrade leaned warm, jade chariot descending slowly.
Thinking of the beautiful person, news and dust after parting, facing this should understand lovesickness.
Most moving to emotion, clepsydra sounds truly long, secretly breaking intestines, flower shadows stealthily shifting.
Expected that coming night, clear light not yet diminished, overcast or clear weather who again knows?
Together gazing longingly, now after parting, still is across-the-year appointment.
People strong and healthy, clear goblet white shadow, forever wishing to follow each other.
Brilliant silver plate, coming from ocean bottom, bright color a thousand miles of pure radiance.
Gleaming without dust, lunar goddess quietly stands, still can be counted, cassia trees uneven.
Jade dews first fall, golden wind not yet biting, a year has nothing resembling this fine time.
Dew sitting long, sparse fireflies occasionally passing, magpies flying directly south.
Jade terrace cold, balustrade leaned warm, jade chariot descending slowly.
Thinking of the beautiful person, news and dust after parting, facing this should understand lovesickness.
Most moving to emotion, clepsydra sounds truly long, secretly breaking intestines, flower shadows stealthily shifting.
Expected that coming night, clear light not yet diminished, overcast or clear weather who again knows?
Together gazing longingly, now after parting, still is across-the-year appointment.
People strong and healthy, clear goblet white shadow, forever wishing to follow each other.