Gazing at the Moon and Thinking of the Distance

望月懷遠 · Three Hundred Tang Poems

Original Chinese text from Chinese Wikisource (public domain). The translation is machine-made and may contain errors. · Original text ↗

Gazing at the Moon and Thinking of the Distance

Over the sea the bright moon rises,

And at the far ends of the earth we share this moment together.

Lovers resent the long, distant night,

And through the whole evening they are stirred by longing.

Putting out the lamp, they cherish the fullness of its light;

Wrapping themselves in robes, they feel the dew growing heavy.

The moonlight cannot be gathered into hands to offer,

So they return to bed and dream of a happy reunion.

望月懷遠

海上生明月,天涯共此時。

情人怨遙夜,竟夕起相思。

滅燭憐光滿,披衣覺露滋。

不堪盈手贈,還寢夢佳期。