THE CHANT OF THE
MOON IN THE MID-AUTUMN
(A poem of natural wisdom)
Autumn wind sways the ocean, tides rise
A circle is brightening at the edge of the sky
Cold silver waves linger over the universe
Glistening water pieces praise the moon’s
kindness
Rills push ripples and bath the body of the
reef
Moonlight washes the silver sand; its glaze
rolls over the shells
The mist is faint, as if melody drifts from
the glorious chambers
The deep sea whirls about, like the shadow of
the white seagull
Light fog suffuse the longitude, the latitude
An icy circle is hanging above the green rug,
on skies of geese
Where the moon shines, there is the great sea
Where the great sea is, the moon shines
The dusty world is vast; where does it end
The moon does not know; it has no beginning,
no end
The deep sea, the heavenly fountain are one pond
The prosperous spring, the harvest autumn, their roots are
the same
Wisps of white silk are traveling through the moon
Joyful waves are at ease; they dance with seagulls’ songs
In the night shades, fishing boats’ lights twinkle, twinkle
Who has ever reflected on the bright moon’s kindness
The meek Goddess of the moon
came by in front of the sails
Enchanting fisherman’s
songs rock the old to sleep
Living in drunkenness, dying in dreams,
rid a crippling body of flesh
The sun is set; the moon arises, serving brightness
All the time illuminating, no one sees
Generations spreading sails; the sails have forms
Eagles pride the sky; there is a landing in the end
Fish hover continents;
long-lives are not definite
Yesterday’s silky blooms, they were lost to sight
This morning’s rapid rain, it left no trace
Rolling waves of Autumn sea are calm, empty,
silent
Dark drapery is low and deep; silver moon brightens
Gentle fog is clear; it entangles the pure creations
Brown reef is dim; it embraces the moon’s
kindness
Who in the world knows the heart of the moon in mid-autumn
Glowing over the whole universe, not darkness, not brightness
By Shanlin-Tzu
