《水调歌头》是宋代著名文学家苏轼的作品。这首词以月起兴，与弟苏辙七年未见之情为基础，围绕中秋明月展开想象和思考，把人世间的悲欢离合之情纳入对宇宙人生的哲理性追寻之中，反映了作者复杂而又矛盾的思想感情，又表现出作者热爱生活与积极向上的乐观精神。词作上片反映执著人生，下片表现善处人生。落笔潇洒，舒卷自如，情与景融，境与思偕，思想深刻而境界高逸，充满哲理，是苏轼词的典范之作。

苏轼 《水调歌头》
明月几时有？
把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙，
今夕是何年。
我欲乘风归去，
又恐琼楼玉宇，
高处不胜寒。
起舞弄清影，
何似在人间。

转朱阁，
低绮户，
照无眠。
不应有恨，
何事长向别时圆？
人有悲欢离合，
月有阴晴圆缺，
此事古难全。
但愿人长久，
千里共婵娟。

Prelude to Water Melody
Su Shi

Bright moon, when wast thou made?
Holding my cup, I ask of the blue sky.
I know not in heaven's palaces
What year it is this night.
I long to ride the wind and return;
Yet fear that marble towers and jade houses,
So high, are over-cold.
I rise and dance and sport with limpid shades;
Better far to be among mankind.

Around the vermillion chamber,
Down in the silken windows,
She shines on the sleepless,
Surely with no ill-will.
Why then is the time of parting always at full moon?
Man has grief and joy, parting and reunion;
The moon has foul weather and fair, waxing and waning.
In this since ever there has been no perfection.
All I can wish is that we may have long life,
That a thousand miles apart we may share her beauty.