水调歌头 

苏轼（宋）

丙辰中秋，欢饮达旦，大醉，作此篇，兼怀子由。

　　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。

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.