[updated October 2022]
Ci En Temple, Autumn Lotus on the Southern Pond
慈 恩 寺 南 池 秋 荷 咏
对 殿 含 凉 气
裁 规 覆 清 沼。
衰 红 受 露 多
馀 馥 依 人 少。
萧 萧 远 尘 迹
飒 飒 凌 秋 晓。
节 谢 客 来 稀
回 塘 方 独 绕。
Ci En Si Nan Chi Qiu He Yong
Dui dian han liang qi
Cai gui fu qing zhao.
Shuai hong shou lu duo
Yu fu yi ren shao.
Xiao xiao yuan chen ji
Sa sa ling qiu xiao.
Jie xie ke lai xi
Hui tang fang du rao.
Ci En Temple, Autumn Lotus on the Southern Pond
Opposite temple halls, cool air exudes
Clear pond, vegetation cover naturally cut and trimmed.
A lot of dew, red petals decline and fall down
Remaining fragrances, few people here to appreciate.
Traces of worldly concerns far away in this deserted place
Approaching autumnal dawn, still strong and upright.
Very few visitors arrive after the Mid-Autumn holidays
By myself circle around and around the pond.
Notes:
Ci En Temple: Buddhist temple in the capital city of Chang’an (Xi’an) built in year 648.
Mid-Autumn holidays: Also known as the Moon Festival, it occurs on the full moon of the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. In the west it is also known as the harvest moon. Mooncakes are made and consumed, and the hanging lanterns bring prosperity and good luck for the year.