Water Melody (Shuidiao Getou)

By: Su Shi (苏轼, 1037-1101 AD), Song Dynasty Poet

“People have their griefs and joys, their joining and separations, the moon its dark and clear times, its roundings and warnings.

As ever in such matters, things are hardly the way we wish.

I only hope we may have long long lives, and together, from a thousand miles away, we can share the beauty of the moon.”

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

Bright moon, when wast thou made?
Holding my cup, I ask of the blue sky.
I know not in heaven’s palaces
What year it is this night.
I long to ride the wind and return;
Yet fear that marble towers and jade houses,
So high, are over-cold.
I rise and dance and sport with limpid shades;
Better far to be among mankind.
Around the vermillion chamber,
Down in the silken windows,
She shines on the sleepless,
Surely with no ill-will.
Why then is the time of parting always at full moon?
People have their griefs and joys, their joining and separations,
the moon its dark and clear times, its roundings and wanings.
As ever in such matters, things are hardly the way we wish.
I only hope we may have long long lives,
and together, from a thousand miles away, we can share the beauty of the moon.

明月几时有，把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间。

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

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Context: This poem, Water Meloday (Shuidiao Getou, 水调歌头), was written by Su Shi on the Mid-Autumn Festival during the year of Bingchen. It reflects themes of nostalgia, longing, and the passage of time. The poem captures the poet's feelings of melancholy and separation, as he contemplates the moon and the fleeting nature of life. The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, is a time for family reunions and moon gazing, making this poem particularly poignant.

Author: Su Shi (苏轼, 1037-1101 AD), also known as Su Dongpo, was a renowned poet, statesman, and calligrapher of the Song Dynasty. He is celebrated for his innovative style in poetry and his ability to express complex emotions through simple yet profound language. Su Shi's works often reflect his personal experiences and philosophical insights, making him one of the most beloved figures in Chinese literary history. His poetry is known for its depth and nuance, capturing the essence of human emotions and the natural world.

Translator: Burton Watson was an American sinologist, translator, and writer known for his English translations of Chinese and Japanese literature.