Li Bai: loose translations
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青天有月来几时,我今停杯一问之。 人攀明月不可得,月行却与人相随。 皎如飞镜临丹阙,绿烟灭尽清辉发。 但见宵从海上来,宁知晓向云间没。 白兔捣药秋复春,嫦娥孤栖与谁邻。 今人不见古时月,今月曾经照古人。 古人今人若流水,共看明月皆如此。 唯愿当歌对酒时,月光长照金樽里。
When has the moon appeared in the blue sky? I stop drinking and ask it now. People cannot reach the bright moon, but the moon follows people. It is as bright as a flying mirror over the red palace, and the green smoke disappears and the clear light shines. I only see it coming from the sea at night, but I don’t know when it will disappear in the clouds. The white rabbit pounded medicine from autumn to spring, and Chang’e lived alone. People today cannot see the moon of the past, but the moon of today once shone on the ancients. The ancients and people today are like flowing water, and they all look at the bright moon like this. I only wish that when I sing and drink, the moonlight will always shine on the golden cup.