By Zhang Jiuling (678-740)

Gazing at the Moon, Longing from Afar

The sea

gives birth to a shining moon

As the other end of the world

shares this moment.

This sentimental man

resents a distant night

And the whole evening

gives rise to longing.

Extinguishing a candle,

feeling the fullness of moonlight

Putting on clothes

as I wake in heavy dew.

Unable

to fill my hands with this gift

I return to bed

and dream a lovely tryst.

Zhāng jiǔ líng

Wàng yuè huái yuǎn

Hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè,

Tiān yá gòng cǐ shí.

Qíng rén yuàn yáo yè,

Jìng xī qǐ xiāng sī.

Miè zhú lián guāng mǎn,

Pī yī jué lù zī.。

Bù kān yíng shǒu zèng,

Hái qǐn mèng jiā qí.

Stretch Nine Age= Zhang Jiuling(678-740)

[Jiuling= his mother let go a fish of “jiuling”(same pronunciation) species before got pregnant with him. He turned out to be a wonder kid in his village.]

Watch-from-afar/look-forward/hope/expect/gaze moon miss/think-of/carry-in-bosom afar/distant/remote/profound

Maritime/sea/ocean above rise/create/birth/living bright/brilliant moon

Sky/heaven shore/bank/water’s-edge together/share this moment/time

[Sky shore = the-other-end-of the-world]

Lover/feeling/sentiment/emotion sweetheart/person complain/blame/hatred/enmity/resentment distant/remote/far-away night/dark

The-whole/finally/after-all/at-last night/evening/dusk create/rise/appear/stand-up/go-up/begin each-other/mutual miss/thinking/lovesick/consider/pondering

Put-out/extinguish candle to-pity/love/sympathize (moon)light full/filled/contented/satisfied

Put-on/wear clothes/clothing feel/wake-up-from-sleep/conscious dew/bare/open/exposed grow/nourish/multiply/thrive

[Note: Drowned in miss, the poet stepped outside of the room to watch the moon.]

Not able-to/bear/adequately-capable-of/worthy-of filled/full/overflowing/surplus the-hands give-as-a-gift/give-present/bestow/confer

[Meaning: I wish but I couldn’t hold the moonlight to send as a gift to my faraway friend.]

Return-to/still/yet/also/besides bed/bed-chamber/sleep/rest dream-about good/auspicious/beautiful/delightful moment/day-of-tryst/period-of-time