With my Brother at the South Study Thinking in the Moonlight
Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 1:51 pm
With my Brother at the South Study Thinking in the Moonlight
-Wang Changling
同從弟南齋翫月憶山陰崔少府
高臥南齋時， 開帷月初吐；
清輝淡水木， 演漾在窗戶。
苒苒幾盈虛？ 澄澄變今古。
美人清江畔， 是夜越吟苦。
千里其如何？ 微風吹蘭杜。
Seated on a couch in the south study,
we lift the curtain to see the rising moon
pouring its glorious brightness upon the water,
casting ripples of light upon shutters and doors.
It will move through its cycle, full moon to crescent again,
transforming quite vainly from old to new,
and is it shining on the ancient limpid river?
So distinctly human, pure and beautiful,
but the night is bitter with a moaning hum:
there is a distance indeed, and yet,
the scent of orchids on the passing breeze.
-Wang Changling
同從弟南齋翫月憶山陰崔少府
高臥南齋時， 開帷月初吐；
清輝淡水木， 演漾在窗戶。
苒苒幾盈虛？ 澄澄變今古。
美人清江畔， 是夜越吟苦。
千里其如何？ 微風吹蘭杜。
Seated on a couch in the south study,
we lift the curtain to see the rising moon
pouring its glorious brightness upon the water,
casting ripples of light upon shutters and doors.
It will move through its cycle, full moon to crescent again,
transforming quite vainly from old to new,
and is it shining on the ancient limpid river?
So distinctly human, pure and beautiful,
but the night is bitter with a moaning hum:
there is a distance indeed, and yet,
the scent of orchids on the passing breeze.