[updated October 2022]
Jinling Western Tower, Chanting Under the Moon
金 陵 城 西 楼 月 下 吟
金 陵 夜 寂 凉 风 发
独 上 高 楼 望 吴 越。
白 云 映 水 摇 空 城
白 露 垂 珠 滴 秋 月。
月 下 沉 吟 久 不 归
古 来 相 接 眼 中 稀。
解 道 澄 江 净 如 练
令 人 长 忆 谢 玄 晖。
Jin Ling Cheng Xi Lou Yue Xia Yin
Jin ling ye ji liang feng fa
Du shang gao lou wang wu yue.
Bai yun ying shui yao kong cheng
Bai lu chui zhu di qiu yue.
Yue xia chen yin jiu bu gui
Gu lai xiang jie yan zhong xi.
Jie dao cheng jiang jing ru lian
Ling ren chang yi xie xuan hui.
Jinling Western Tower, Chanting Under the Moon
Quiet evening in Jinling, cool winds emerge
Alone, go up into the tall tower, gaze into the distance to eastern Zhejiang.
Empty city, white clouds reflected on shimmering water
White dew like hanging pearl drops from the autumn moon.
Under the moon for a long time searching for the best words before going back
Since the beginning of time, connecting to ancient poets makes one at the center of rare, key points.
I can feel his one line: transparent river pure like white silk
This facilitates long memories of Xie Xuanhui.
Notes:
Jinling: Located in central Hubei.
Xie Xuanhui: (464-499) Also known as Xie Tiao, he was a Southern Qi poet. Often called Xiao Xie, the Little Xie, when compared to the more famous Xie Lingyun. The short-lived Qi Dynasty was from 479-502.