Lanterns Festival Night

 

东风夜放花千树。更吹落，星如雨。宝马雕车香满路。

凤箫声动，玉壶光转，一夜鱼龙舞。

 

Tonight, east wind bids countless trees flower,

What’s more, it eke bids stars fall like shower.

Adorned carriages’ perfume embalms fest-grounds,

The sound of flutes in far distance resounds

The moon’s eye lights up at the throng –

Fish-and-dragon-styled lanterns dance all night long.    

蛾儿雪柳黄金缕。笑语盈盈暗香去。众里寻他千百度。

蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。

 

Damsels don their unique bejeweled head-wear 

Giggling rings here, fragrance flows there,

I’ve been seeking her, in the throng, in every nook,

But in vain till I suddenly turn back to look,

O, right there alone she doth stand

In a dimming spot of bright-lantern-land

 

Tr. Ziyuzile