I was burning incense, paying respects to my mother,
when a friend came to visit.
He said he had walked down four main avenues,
and there was not a single lantern to be enjoyed!
Last year, on this night of the Lantern Festival,
the special lanterns glittered everywhere.
A fragrant breeze covered the earth,
and a jewel-like moon shone in the sky.
Elegant ladies and handsome men
walked in groups or in couples.
They kept company until the morning bells,
laughing, singing, clapping their hands.
But this year, the authorities, afraid the wind
might start a fire,
have put up notices: “No Celebrating Allowed.”
Ever since the terrible harvest,
robbers and thieves have been causing trouble.
This is the Festival again,
but our joy is much less than in the past.
Done with his story, the visitor left,
and I was moved to distant thoughts.