• Whence the moon, so full and bright!
• With wine-cup in hand, I ask the blue sky,
• Wondering, "In the celestial palace
• Of what year is this festive night?
• "I yearn to fly back -- riding the air!
• Only afraid how cold it might be up there
• In those mansions, crystal and jade-like.
• So, I rise to dance and dance
• To frolic with my own shadow. How unlike
• the mortal's world in human lands!
• And, lo!
• She rounds the vermilion tower,
• Stoops to the screened window,
• And shines upon the sleepless at this hour.
• Have no grudge, sweet moon, for why
• Thou have to wax just at our parting!
• As mortals we have sorrows and delights,
• partings and reunions;
• As moon thou have shadow and light,_
• Waxes and wanes.
• The perfect moment, perfectly rare --
• From time immemorial! I only pray,
• "Longevity to all!" Enjoy and share
• The fair moon, thousands of miles away!

*Composed on the mid-autumn festival, l076. Heartily drunken, the poet danced and remembered his dear brother Tzu-yu who, like himself, was inpolitical exile!

Original in Chinese

水調歌頭

蘇東坡

• 明月幾時有？
• 把酒問甘天。
• 不知天上宮闕，
• 令夕是何年？
• 我欲乘風歸去，
• 惟恐瓊樓玉宇，
• 高處不勝寒。
• 起舞弄清影，
• 何似在人間！
• 轉朱閣，
• 低綺戶，
• 照無眠。
• 不應有恨，
• 何事長向別時圓？
• 人有悲歡離合，
• 月有陰晴圓缺，
• 此事古難全。
• 但願人長久，
• 千里共嬋娟。