王昌龄

高卧南斋时， 开帷月初吐;

清辉淡水木， 演漾在窗户。

苒苒几盈虚? 澄澄变今古。

美人清江畔， 是夜越吟苦。

千里其如何? 微风吹兰杜。

Five-character-ancient-verse

Wang Changling

WITH MY BROTHER AT THE SOUTH STUDY

THINKING IN THE MOONLIGHT OF VICE-PREFECT

CUI IN SHANYIN

Lying on a high seat in the south study,

We have lifted the curtain-and we see the rising moon

Brighten with pure light the water and the grove

And flow like a wave on our window and our door.

It will move through the cycle, full moon and then crescent again,

Calmly, beyond our wisdom, altering new to old.

...Our chosen one, our friend, is now by a limpid river --

Singing, perhaps, a plaintive eastern song.

He is far, far away from us, three hundred miles away.

And yet a breath of orchids comes along the wind.