The Mid-autumn Festival
Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"

How long will the full moon appear?
Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of the year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly,
Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be
Too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?
The moon goes round the mansions red
Through gauze-draped window soft to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;
The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.
So let us wish that man
Will live long as he can!
Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.

生词(shēngcí) Vocabulary:
几时(jĭshí): adv when
把酒(bă jiŭ): v to take up a glass
不胜(búshèng): v cannot stand or bear
弄(nòng): v to play and enjoy
朱(zhū): adj red
婵娟(chánjuān): n the beautiful things; here the moon

About the poem
This poem is the most famous Mid-Autumn Festival poem. The author wrote it for his brother, whom he missed dearly after not having seen him for seven years. There are two sentences in the poem that are commonly used by people. 人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺, 此事古难全.(Rén yŏu bēihuānlíhé, yuè yŏu yīnqíngyuánquē, cĭshì gŭ nán quán). is a very philosophical sentence. It tells people that not everything is perfect, and we should learn to endure trials and live optimistically. 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟(Dànyuàn rén chángjiŭ, qiānlĭ gòng chánjuān). is a famous sentence of blessing during a time of reunion. It expresses blessings of health and safety to others.