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Worshiping the Moon: Night Whispers and Autumn Longing
English Poetic Translation
Night deepens fast, the watch is called anew,
The dust is laid, the alley holds the dew,
In quiet lanes where silver moons are dim,
A lamp shines through the bamboos by the trim
And rustling fence—I know the very gate
Where Qiuniang dwells in quiet evening state.
We smile to meet. Like jade and jasper trees,
We lean together in the fragrant breeze,
Bright as warm sunshine or a glowing cloud.
Her orchid soul, her glances clear and proud,
Seem treasures never seen in mortal years,
Yet on my painted scroll her face appears,
Like some old memory of a spring day's grace.
Who would have guessed, upon this fairy place
Where cloud and rain were warm with tender art,
The sudden gale should tear our lives apart?
Now left alone within a barren inn,
Where double doors shut out the cold and din,
While autumn crickets in the ruins sigh,
My thoughts across the distant mountains fly:
A single thread of grief, unbroken still,
That stretches on beyond each stream and hill.
The dust is laid, the alley holds the dew,
In quiet lanes where silver moons are dim,
A lamp shines through the bamboos by the trim
And rustling fence—I know the very gate
Where Qiuniang dwells in quiet evening state.
We smile to meet. Like jade and jasper trees,
We lean together in the fragrant breeze,
Bright as warm sunshine or a glowing cloud.
Her orchid soul, her glances clear and proud,
Seem treasures never seen in mortal years,
Yet on my painted scroll her face appears,
Like some old memory of a spring day's grace.
Who would have guessed, upon this fairy place
Where cloud and rain were warm with tender art,
The sudden gale should tear our lives apart?
Now left alone within a barren inn,
Where double doors shut out the cold and din,
While autumn crickets in the ruins sigh,
My thoughts across the distant mountains fly:
A single thread of grief, unbroken still,
That stretches on beyond each stream and hill.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
夜色催更，清塵收露，小曲幽坊月暗。
竹檻燈窗，識秋娘庭院。
笑相遇，似覺瓊枝玉樹相倚，暖日明霞光爛。
水眄蘭情，總平生稀見。
畫圖中、舊識春風面。
誰知道、自到瑤臺畔。
眷戀雨潤雲溫，苦驚風吹散。
念荒寒、寄宿無人館。
重門閉、敗壁秋蟲嘆。
怎奈向、一縷相思，隔溪山不斷。
竹檻燈窗，識秋娘庭院。
笑相遇，似覺瓊枝玉樹相倚，暖日明霞光爛。
水眄蘭情，總平生稀見。
畫圖中、舊識春風面。
誰知道、自到瑤臺畔。
眷戀雨潤雲溫，苦驚風吹散。
念荒寒、寄宿無人館。
重門閉、敗壁秋蟲嘆。
怎奈向、一縷相思，隔溪山不斷。
Philological Direct Translation
Night colors urge the watch, clear dust gathers dew, small alley secluded lane moon dark.
Bamboo railing lamp window, I recognize Qiuniang's courtyard.
Smiling we meet, feeling like jasper branches and jade trees leaning against each other, warm sun bright rosy clouds shining brilliantly.
Water-glancing orchid feelings, altogether in a lifetime rarely seen.
Within painted scrolls, old acquaintance with spring breeze face.
Who knew, since arriving at the jade terrace banks.
Fond attachment rain moist cloud warm, painfully startled wind blows scattering.
Mind desolate and cold, lodging overnight in an unpeopled inn.
Multiple doors closed, ruined walls autumn insects sigh.
How to bear it, a single thread of mutual longing, across streams and mountains unceasing.
Bamboo railing lamp window, I recognize Qiuniang's courtyard.
Smiling we meet, feeling like jasper branches and jade trees leaning against each other, warm sun bright rosy clouds shining brilliantly.
Water-glancing orchid feelings, altogether in a lifetime rarely seen.
Within painted scrolls, old acquaintance with spring breeze face.
Who knew, since arriving at the jade terrace banks.
Fond attachment rain moist cloud warm, painfully startled wind blows scattering.
Mind desolate and cold, lodging overnight in an unpeopled inn.
Multiple doors closed, ruined walls autumn insects sigh.
How to bear it, a single thread of mutual longing, across streams and mountains unceasing.