A Toast to the Moon

A Toast to the Moon ~ A Grand Canal Label

Mid-Autumn, ninth year of the Xinin Reign. Feasted till dawn; wrote these lines in drunken haze. Sorely missed my brother, whom I have not seen for the last seven years.

“Bright one, whence comest thou?”
Here to you, I raise my toast.
“What year is this night,
In your heavenly abode?”
I long to ride the wind and return,
But the thought of an all-jade world,
Leaves my mortal body chilled inmost,
And I wonder how a dance above, solo,
Might compare to one at home below?

Around the pavilions and through the doors,
It’s only the sleepless ones you follow.
You’re always at your fullest,
Just when loved ones are parting in sorrow.
The joy of reunion is followed by the bitterness of separation,
A full bright moon, always by one less of a fraction,
It has been so, since times of old.
May we travelers of life all have long life,
And many full moons behold.

---

The Chinese original, in case you care:

苏轼 (1037-1101)

丙辰中秋，欢饮达旦，大醉。作此篇，兼怀子由。

水调歌头·明月几时有

1-1 明月几时有？
1-2 把酒问青天。 【韻】
1-3 不知天上宫阙，
1-4 今夕是何年？ 【韻】
1-5 我欲乘风归去，
1-6 又恐琼楼玉宇，
1-7 高处不胜寒。 【韻】
1-8 起舞弄清影，
1-9 何似在人间。 【韻】

2-1 转朱阁，
2-2 低绮户，
2-3 照无眠。 【韻】
2-4 不应有恨，
2-5 何事长向别时圆？【韻】
2-6 人有悲欢离合，
2-7 月有阴晴圆缺，
2-8 此事古难全。 【韻】
2-9 但愿人长久，
2-0 千里共婵娟。 【韻】

第一阕韵押2，4，7，9，第二阕韵押3，5，8，10.