The Ninth Moon

Tonight is the ninth full moon of the year under the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.  Here is my translation of a Tang poem by Li He, which is part of a series he wrote, with a poem in honor of each full moon of the year.

The Ninth Moon

The summer pavilion is empty now

But for a few stray fireflies

The sky has assumed a watery hue

The bamboo yellows

And the lotus withers

In the pond’s chill depth

Tonight the moonlight 
Will embroider everything

As it falls like a blessing

On the chill park and courtyard below

So tranquil, empty and pure

The frost dispersed by the wind

Will shine like a lattice haphazardly

Strewn across the grass

Nature’s most elaborate and colorful

Patchwork lies in layers underfoot

Not even a rooster will cry

To greet the dawn

Only stone pendants tinkling

And then the crows

Will caw loudly

As the golden leaves

From the Paulownia tree

Keep falling to the ground

九月

李贺

离宫散萤天似水     竹黄池冷芙蓉死

月缀金铺光脉脉     凉苑虚庭空澹白

霜花飞飞风草草     翠锦斓斑满层道

鸡人罢唱晓珑璁     鸦啼金井下疏桐

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