Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Today is Mid-Autumn Festival (ä¸ç§ç¯) (More anecdote about the festival here and here.)
928 years ago, Su Dong Po, governor of Hangzhou, wrote a poem titled, Song by the River, while sitting by West Lake on the night of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. This is one of the poems I like and today I am posting the translation of it by Shun-Yi Lee.
I wonder what is life like in West Lake, Hangzhou this year?
928 years ago, Su Dong Po, governor of Hangzhou, wrote a poem titled, Song by the River, while sitting by West Lake on the night of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. This is one of the poems I like and today I am posting the translation of it by Shun-Yi Lee.
"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."
I wonder what is life like in West Lake, Hangzhou this year?
