Tune: “Hawthorn Fruit” Zhu Shuzhen* (ca. 1135-1180 CE)
Tr. YK Chan 陳耀國譯
去年元夜时， Last year at Lantern Festival night
花市灯如昼。 Flower mart was lit bright as daylight.
月上柳梢头， To willow top the moon rising up
人约黄昏后。 I met my rendezvous after dusk.
今年元夜时， This year at Lantern Festival night
月与灯依旧。 There still are the same old moon and lights.
不见去年人， Last year’s rendezvous not in sight
泪湿春衫袖。 My sleeves soaked wet by tears I fight.
_____________________
*一作【宋】欧阳修. Some regard Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072 CE) as the author of this ci.
hi, y k,
nice rendition.
may i submit an alternative rendition below, please.
【生查子·元夕】宋·歐陽修
去年元夜時， 花市燈如晝。
月上柳梢頭， 人約黃昏後。
今年元夜時， 月與燈依舊。
不見去年人， 淚濕青衫袖。
Tune: Wild Hawthorn
“Evening on Chinese Valentine’s Day ”
(the 15th Day of the 1st Moon) Ouyang Xiu (Song)
On the fifteenth night of the Lunar New Year last —
Bright lanterns lit up the flowers market like noon;
When atop the willows softly sat the full moon,
As pledg’d, two young lovers came and met ev’ning past.
O! On the fifteenth night of this Lunar New Year —
The full moon and the bright lanterns are here the same,
But not a trace of the last year’s person unnamed…
Now her green, green sleeves are wet with many a tear!
frank
Still another translation:
Last year at Lantern Fest night
Flowers and lanterns bright as daylight
Whence willow-tops appeared the full moon
You and I met not a minute too soon
This year at Lantern Fest night
Lanterns and moon as ever bright
How I miss you my love of year last
Tears wet my sleeves fast
Kong Shiu Loon