水調歌頭 

蘇軾（宋）

丙辰中秋，歡飲達旦，大醉，作此篇，兼懷子由。

　　明月幾時有，把酒問青天。不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人間。

　　轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。不應有恨，何事長向別時圓？人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。

Prelude to Melodies of Water

By Su Shi (Poet of the Song Dynasty)

To celebrate the mid-autumn of 1076, I have enjoyed drinking like mad the whole night. Now nearly all-drunk, I am composing this poem, also as a rememberance of my brother Ziyou.

What time the bright moon will start to show up,

while enjoying my wine, I get to ask the clear sky above.

Just curious about this heavenly palace up there,

what year are you in right now by your calender.

I am eager to ride the wind to get back there,  

but really scared of that crystal-clear space and jadery blue structure.

Must be awefully cold so high up and above.

I dance by myself and cast distinct shadows of my own,

this isn't like anything still in mankind.

The moon is rotating around the red chamber where I stay,

it sinks lowly and shines through the windows,

so bright and I am sleepless.

You really have no odds against us,

why always show your full form only when we must part each other?

Sadness, happiness, separation and reunion are all common to mankind,

while the moon may be dim, bright, round and dented, 

Nothing is ever perfect since ancient times.

Dream we all can be perpetual,

so we can enjoy the beauty of full moon jointly across thousand of miles.