水 调 歌 头 / 但 愿 人 长 久 – 苏 轼
Wish you Long Life and Happiness – poem by Su Shi

Translation by Frank Clifford Chan

明月几时有？把酒问青天。
"When will there be silver moon?” I raise a cupful of wine and address to the sky.

不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。
I don't know where is the palace of heaven, nor what year tonight slips by.

我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇。
If I sail to the palace of heaven, I will be afraid of the divinity.

高处不胜寒，起舞弄清影，何似在人间！
It’s cold so high above the sky. I would rather dance with my own shadow, and live “heavenly on earth”!

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。
Around the pavilion, through the window, the moon shines onto my eye. I can’t sleep.

不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？
I should not be angry, but why should you (the moon) shine so bright and fully when my friend departs!

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
Human has joy and sorrow, departure and re-union; moon can be bright and dull, full and crescent. Perfection rarely appears in life.

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
All I can do is to wish each other a long life, and to share the beauty of this graceful moon while we are miles apart.