Visitors enjoy lantern decorations to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai on Friday. The festival falls on the 15th day of the first month on Chinese lunar calendar. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

TUNE: SONG OF HAWTHORN

Ouyang Xiu

(Northern Song Dynasty)

Last year on lunar festive night,

Lanterns 'mid blooms shone as daylight.

The moon rose atop willow tree;

My lover had a tryst with me.

This year on lunar festive night,

Moon and lanterns still shine as bright.

But where's my lover of last year?

My sleeves are wet with tear on tear.

生查子

[北宋]欧阳修

去年元夜时,花市灯如昼。

月上柳梢头,人约黄昏后。

今年元夜时,月与灯依旧。

不见去年人,泪湿春衫袖。

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the poet 

Ouyang Xiu was a Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) poet who was greatly respected during his time. He was also a historian and politician. 

About the book 

300 Song lyrics Translated by Xu Yuanchong Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2019