Reflections on a Quiet Night

Introducion:

The moon is the usual symbol of nostalgia in the works of most Chinese poets, however, his poem is a rare exception for its expressiveness and directnessa pool of light before the bed looks just like autumn hoarfrost at first glance. Is it really frost? The poet wonders.   

 

Text：

Jìng Yè Sī

静   夜 思

李白(唐)

 

Chuáng qián míng yuè guāng，yí shì dì shàng shuāng。

 床    前   明  月    光  ， 疑是  地  上 霜  。

Jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè，dī tóu sī gù xiāng。

举 头  望     明     月，低 头  思 故 乡 。

 

Reflections on a Quiet Night

Li Bai(Tang)

 

Before my bed shine bright the silver beams

It seems the autunm frost on the ground so gleams

I gaze upwards toward the moon in the skies

And downwards look when a nostalgia does arise

 

Comment:

 

The moon is the usual symbol of nostalgia in the works of most Chinese poets, however, this poem is a rare exception for its expressiveness and directness.A pool of light before the bed looks just like autumn hoarfrost at first glance. Is it really frost? The poet wonders. Upon a closer look he finds out it is the moon light. In Chinese tradition the phases of the moon have always signified family separation and reunion. At this emotional moment the poet cannot but feel lonely and miss his family far away.