Fine things in season are a delight,
The Lantern Feast's zest is at its height.
Long years of bitter wind and rain,
Tonight, by chance, clear skies remain.
The heavens clear of mist and haze,
Starlight invades the moon's soft rays.
Six streets in bustling crowds converge,
Two towers rise, a lofty verge.
In former days, wealth was abundant,
Joyful hearts, no worries redundant.
Deep and still, the closed garden lies,
Graceful, she leads the witch with sighs.
A hundred vats of jade-green clear,
A thousand lotus branches appear.
Pearls' song, crisp and stirring, rings,
Rainbow sleeves in rival dancing swings.
Soaring with young, a tender sight,
Sweetly calling friends in the night.
The streamlet urges the swift arrow's flight,
Earnestly still sounds the drum's might.
Dimly fly the splendid canopies,
Tinkling jade pendants chime with ease.
East and west, I climb to gaze around,
North and south, I pass through the ground.
I spare not the cloud-jar drained dry,
But watch the ox shadow fleeting by.
I regret no Kuafu's feet to chase,
Nor Lu Yang's spear to halt time's pace.
Coming and going, my heart forgets all schemes,
Morning and night, how use fulfills my dreams.
This fine hour is shared in vain delight,
Joyous matters differ in their right.
I lead to tune the strings and pipes,
Arrange the silken, rich prototypes.
Though Yu's belly empty, hunger stays,
Why should drunken, flushed cheeks amaze?
I see not three thousand pairs of shoes,
Nor meet the twelve shuttles' rare views.
Lonely on the dusty path I stand,
Who asks how goes the night at hand?