LOOKING AT THE MOON AFTER RAIN (Tang Dynasty/Li Bai)

(Translated by Capella Cao)

Overcast breaking away beyond the city's borders,

Opening the the window, seeing the moon rising over the mountain.

Frosty fog spreading over ten thousand "Li".

The river lies like a shining chain under the moon,

The rising moon whitens the hills,

Once risen brightens the center of the sea.

Adoring the fan-shape bright moon,

I serenade the moon until the dawn.

Notes:

1. Tang Dynasty: 618 A.D - 906 A.D

2. Li Bai: 701 A.D. - 762 A.D

3. Li" is an ancient Chinese unit of distance. The definition changed over time by different administrations. It is roughly one third of an English mile.

4. The format of this poem is five-character verse, meaning five characters each line, but not the five-character four-line quatrain.

雨后望月

- 李白

四郊阴霭散，

开户半蟾生。

万里舒霜合，

一条江练横。

出时山眼白，

高后海心明。

为惜如团扇，

长吟到五更。

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